In 2015, the World Customs Organization (WCO) assisted Cameroon Customs in enhancing its leadership capabilities, regaining control of outsourced functions, and promoting reforms. This support culminated in the "Mbankomo II Declaration," which aims to further support the development of Cameroon Customs. The initiative focused on strengthening internal management and fostering a more effective and autonomous customs administration.
In April 2023, the World Customs Organization organized a study visit to Japan for heads of African Customs Laboratories to learn best practices from Asia-Pacific regional customs laboratories. The visit included examining laboratory operation models, technologies, infrastructure, and a tour of the Japan Customs Laboratory. African representatives expressed their commitment to enhancing their national laboratory capabilities and looked forward to future international exchanges and cooperation. The visit highlighted the importance of regional collaboration in strengthening customs laboratory expertise.
The West Africa Security Project (WASP) aims to enhance border security in West Africa by supporting partner countries in developing and implementing gender-sensitive and inclusive policies through its Gender Equality and Diversity (GED) component. Utilizing the WCO's GEOAT tool and training, the project assists customs administrations in comprehensively implementing GED across human resources, border operations, and stakeholder cooperation. This contributes significantly to security and sustainable development in the West African region.
The WCO is assisting the Ukrainian Customs Training Center in clarifying its role, developing strategies, and enhancing European customs capabilities. This support aims to improve the center's ability to deliver effective training programs and contribute to the overall modernization of customs operations in the region. By strengthening customs procedures and knowledge, the initiative ultimately seeks to facilitate regional trade and economic growth. The focus is on building a sustainable training infrastructure that can continuously adapt to evolving needs and challenges within the customs environment.
A WCO assessment report highlights challenges faced by Ethiopia's Post Clearance Audit (PCA). Recommendations include strengthening legal frameworks, improving risk management practices, and enhancing IT infrastructure. These improvements aim to increase the efficiency of customs control and facilitate trade. Addressing these areas is crucial for Ethiopia to optimize its customs operations and contribute to regional and global trade competitiveness. Successful implementation will require sustained commitment and strategic resource allocation.
Malaysian Customs has signed an agreement with the World Customs Organization (WCO) to introduce the CLiKC! e-learning platform. This initiative aims to enhance the professional knowledge and skills of customs officers, improve work efficiency, and promote trade facilitation. The agreement allows Malaysian Customs to install WCO e-learning courses on its servers, providing its officers with a flexible and personalized learning experience to address the increasingly complex international trade environment. This will contribute to a more competent and effective customs administration in Malaysia.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) collaborated with Mongolian Customs to conduct a passenger risk screening workshop in Ulaanbaatar, aiming to enhance Mongolia's risk-based passenger targeting capabilities. The workshop covered risk management frameworks, behavioral analysis, questioning techniques, and the application of WCO risk management tools. It emphasized the strategic importance of risk management in customs modernization and explored future trends in intelligent risk management.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) successfully conducted a Post-Clearance Audit (PCA) technical assistance workshop for the Colombian Tax and Customs Authority (DIAN). The workshop aimed to enhance DIAN's PCA capabilities and assist in applying the WCO PCA diagnostic tool. Through expert training and guidance, DIAN made significant progress in understanding PCA concepts, improving audit processes, and developing long-term development strategies. This contributes to building a more efficient and transparent tax system in Colombia.
The World Customs Organization (WCO), in collaboration with the European Union, held a high-level workshop in Nigeria to enhance the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)'s expertise in Harmonized System (HS) coding. Through a combination of theoretical and practical training, the workshop aimed to improve the accuracy of customs officials in classifying goods, thereby promoting trade facilitation and injecting new vitality into Nigeria's economic development. This initiative is crucial for ensuring efficient customs procedures and boosting international trade competitiveness.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) is assisting Madagascar Customs in implementing the Trade Facilitation Agreement and the Immediate Release Guidelines, aiming to optimize trade processes, accelerate cargo release, and promote economic growth. Through workshops, gap analysis, and field visits, the WCO is working with Madagascar Customs to advance digital transformation and improve cross-border trade efficiency. This collaboration focuses on enhancing customs procedures and infrastructure to streamline the movement of goods and boost Madagascar's economic competitiveness.
