Dakhla Port is a vital maritime hub in Western Sahara, with a long history since its opening in 1884. It has become a key center for fishing and international trade, handling around 250,000 tons of cargo annually, primarily consisting of petroleum products and fish. The port serves as a transportation link between Europe and South America, and its future development prospects are promising.
London International Airport (YXU) is an essential civilian airport located in Ontario, Canada, originally established as a flight training base in 1927. It features two main runways and provides flights to major cities across North America. The airport generates over $357 million in annual economic benefits and supports more than 1,700 jobs, making it a critical pillar for regional development.
Simón Bolívar International Airport, located 21 kilometers from downtown Caracas, Venezuela, is the main and busiest airport in the country. Established in 1945 and situated at an elevation of 835 meters, it features a single runway measuring 1974 meters in length. The airport serves multiple airlines, including Conviasa and international carriers, making it a crucial aviation hub connecting South America and Europe.
In January 2025, the WCO and Tonga Customs jointly held a workshop on tariff rulings in Nuku'alofa, aiming to enhance Tonga Customs' tariff classification capabilities and promote trade facilitation. Sponsored by the Japan Customs Cooperation Fund, the workshop covered WCO guidelines, Tonga Customs practices, action plan development, and expert experience sharing. Through capacity building, institutional improvement, technical support, and international cooperation, Tonga Customs will be better positioned to serve national economic development.
Rwanda is actively strengthening customs cooperation within the WTO framework. By developing a cross-border agency procedures manual, it promotes compliance and collaboration, enhancing information exchange and declaration data verification. This initiative aims to improve trade efficiency and compliance levels, serving as a reference for other developing countries. The efforts focus on streamlining border processes and fostering a more transparent and efficient trade environment through enhanced cooperation and data sharing amongst relevant agencies.
The 2nd WCO COPES Regional Workshop was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, aiming to enhance evidence collection capabilities of customs administrations in the region to combat transnational crime. Through interactive training and experience sharing, the workshop strengthened the professional skills of customs officials from various countries and laid the foundation for future international cooperation. The COPES project will continue to strengthen international cooperation, focus on emerging forms of crime, and contribute to building a safer world.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) jointly launched the "East African Post Clearance Audit Instructor Training Program" (MTP). This initiative aims to cultivate a high-quality regional instructor pool, enhance the Post Clearance Audit (PCA) capabilities of East African customs administrations, and facilitate trade. Through systematic training, curriculum development, and expert guidance, the program seeks to improve PCA skills, promote trade facilitation, strengthen regional cooperation, and achieve sustainable development in the region.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU) are collaborating to address challenges posed by cross-border e-commerce. This partnership involves strengthening cooperation agreements, holding global conferences, and optimizing customs clearance processes. The aim is to improve customs-postal cooperation, providing global consumers with a more convenient and efficient cross-border shopping experience. Efforts are also focused on building a safer and smarter postal environment, ensuring secure and streamlined international postal services.
The potential US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement has sparked global concern. This agreement aims to control global temperature rise and requires international cooperation. Within the US, there is debate over the withdrawal, with dissenting voices from the business sector. A withdrawal could impact global climate governance, but addressing climate change still necessitates global collaboration. The agreement's future effectiveness hinges on continued commitment from other nations, regardless of US involvement. International cooperation remains crucial for achieving climate goals.
Customs cooperation between Peru and Bolivia focuses on exchanging experiences in risk management and customs laboratories. The collaboration aims to enhance trade facilitation and promote regional economic development. This includes sharing best practices and exploring collaborative strategies to improve efficiency and security in cross-border trade. The initiative seeks to streamline customs procedures, reduce trade barriers, and foster a more competitive and integrated regional market. Ultimately, this cooperation contributes to economic growth and strengthens ties between the two nations.
