EMCCA Customs College Overhauls Strategy with WCO Backing

EMCCA Customs College Overhauls Strategy with WCO Backing

The World Customs Organization (WCO) assisted the Inter-State School for Customs of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (ISSC-CEMAC) in reshaping its development strategy, aiming to modernize its training system through capacity building. The WCO's diagnostic assessment provided recommendations for ISSC improvements, and a new development strategy was jointly formulated to enhance the professional competence of regional customs officers and promote trade facilitation. The focus is on strengthening the ISSC's role as a key training hub for customs administrations in the CEMAC region.

Saudi Customs Launches Single Window for MENA Trade

Saudi Customs Launches Single Window for MENA Trade

A regional workshop held by the World Customs Organization in Saudi Arabia focused on coordinating border management, Single Window implementation, and the application of the WCO Data Model in the Middle East and North Africa region. The conference emphasized the importance of strategic planning, business process re-engineering, and data harmonization. The aim is to facilitate regional cross-border trade and economic development by streamlining procedures, improving efficiency, and enhancing transparency. This initiative seeks to create a more seamless and effective trade environment within the region.

Eswatini Launches Etariff Platform to Enhance Trade Efficiency

Eswatini Launches Etariff Platform to Enhance Trade Efficiency

Eswatini has launched an electronic tariff platform to enhance trade facilitation. A national workshop equipped tax officials with in-depth knowledge of the platform's functionalities, boosting their management capabilities. The platform boasts advantages such as information transparency, operational convenience, and data integration. It is projected to stimulate trade growth, attract foreign investment, and improve competitiveness. With its official launch imminent, Eswatini is poised to become a leader in trade facilitation within Africa. The platform is expected to streamline customs processes and reduce administrative burdens for businesses.

MENA Aviation Leaders Gather for Industry Transformation at IATA Summit

MENA Aviation Leaders Gather for Industry Transformation at IATA Summit

The 2026 IATA Middle East & North Africa Aviation Day will be held in Bahrain, focusing on three key themes: data-driven, seamless connectivity, and sustainable aviation. The summit will bring together aviation leaders, policymakers, and innovators to discuss opportunities and challenges facing the aviation industry in the MENA region. The goal is to promote the transformation and upgrading of the regional aviation industry and build a brighter future for aviation. The event aims to foster collaboration and innovation to drive progress in these crucial areas.

EUWCO Project Boosts African Customs Modernization Trade

EUWCO Project Boosts African Customs Modernization Trade

The EU-WCO cooperation project promotes customs modernization in Africa by optimizing the Harmonized System and rules of origin, and strengthening capacity building. This creates a more efficient trade environment, fostering intra-African trade and regional economic integration. The project has yielded significant results and will continue to support African customs development, contributing to the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area. Its focus on streamlining procedures and enhancing skills will be crucial for unlocking Africa's trade potential and fostering sustainable economic growth across the continent.

MENA Customs Boost Efficiency in Wcoled Workshop

MENA Customs Boost Efficiency in Wcoled Workshop

The World Customs Organization (WCO) held a workshop on organizational performance evaluation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, aiming to enhance regional customs effectiveness. The workshop covered core topics such as strategic planning indicator design and work area planning. Qatar Customs shared their experience in business intelligence exploration. Based on WCO standards, this event assists customs administrations in the MENA region to improve management and promote regional trade development. This initiative aims to foster efficiency and collaboration within the customs community.

WCO Supports Guineabissau Customs Modernization Efforts

WCO Supports Guineabissau Customs Modernization Efforts

Under the West Africa Customs Administration Modernization (WACAM) project, funded by the Swedish government, the World Customs Organization (WCO) supported Guinea-Bissau Customs in resource mobilization. Through training, Guinea-Bissau Customs enhanced its project planning capabilities, completing draft project proposals and a donor mapping exercise. The next step involves the WACAM project assisting the country in hosting a national donor roundtable conference to promote customs modernization. This initiative aims to secure funding and partnerships crucial for advancing customs reforms and efficiency in Guinea-Bissau.

International Aid Strengthens Malis Customs Crisis Response

International Aid Strengthens Malis Customs Crisis Response

The World Customs Organization (WCO) collaborates with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) through the C-RED project to support Mali in enhancing its customs clearance capacity for emergency relief goods. This initiative aims to strengthen customs' preparedness for emergencies in West Africa by focusing on capacity building, coordination mechanisms, and the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The goal is to ensure the rapid delivery of relief supplies, contributing to the protection of lives and livelihoods during crises.

Gambia Advances Tax Reform with WCO to Boost West African Standards

Gambia Advances Tax Reform with WCO to Boost West African Standards

With the support of the WCO, the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) has initiated strategic management reforms aimed at enhancing organizational project management capabilities and strategic monitoring and evaluation frameworks. This collaboration aims to position the GRA as a strategic management role model in West Africa, ultimately increasing fiscal revenue and promoting economic development. The reforms focus on building internal capacity and establishing robust mechanisms for tracking progress and ensuring accountability in achieving strategic objectives. The expected outcome is a more efficient and effective revenue collection system.

China Launches dragon Action to Curb Export IP Theft

China Launches dragon Action to Curb Export IP Theft

National Customs launched a three-month "Dragon Action" to severely crack down on import and export infringement activities, focusing on exports to Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and countries along the "Belt and Road" initiative. Key products include small appliances and electronic goods. Through increased penalties, criminal prosecution, and support for civil justice, Customs will collaborate to provide strong intellectual property protection for export enterprises, helping Chinese brands to thrive overseas. This initiative aims to safeguard Chinese innovation and ensure fair trade practices.