Networked Customs tops agenda at WCO meeting

The 115th and 116th annual sessions of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the voice of the global Customs community, took place in Brussels from June 24-26 (while we were enjoying the first Fifa Soccer World Cup hosted on the African continent). Customs chiefs discussed issues such as a globally networked Customs. A considerable time was spent discussing innovative risk management and the future challenge of putting risk management theory into practice. ‘A practical tool, The Risk Management Compendium’, has been published by the WCO and provides a guide supported by many case studies and practical examples. The goal is to keep the compendium updated by feeding future examples and case studies into it. 2010 is the WCO’s year of the Customs-Business Partnership. Bearing in mind that the Customs-Trade partnership is a priority activity, the organisation signed renewed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations, the Global Express Association, the International Federation of Customs Brokers Associations and the International Air Cargo Association. The WCO’s regional network was expanded with the signing of MOUs between the WCO and the Republics of Congo, Korea and Ukraine. Regional Training Centres will be established in these countries, serving as centres of excellence in these regions. The Phillippines and Kenya became the 70th and 71st contracting parties to the WCO Revised Kyoto Convention (which promotes trade facilitation and Customs modernisation). Liberia also became the 138th contracting party to the WCO Harmonised System Convention. Tripartite agreements were signed between the WCO and Lesotho /South Africa, Mauritius/South Africa, Ethiopia/Israel and Mauritius/ Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, thus promoting the sharing of knowledge of skills with one another. South Africa can be proud of the fact that Erich Kieck from South Africa was appointed to head the Capacity Building Directorate. The Annual Sessions of the WCO remind us of the extensive work going on behind the scenes to ensure fair trade. Should this not encourage us to work hard ensuring that we, as various role players, are compliant in all respects with the various international trade laws and instruments?