World Customs Organization Update of the WCO agenda after the 2004 Council

1
World Customs Organization Update of the WCO
agenda after the 2004 Council

• GFP meeting
• Washington DC, 7 July 2004
• Kunio Mikuriya
• Deputy Secretary General

2
New resolution on supply chain security and
facilitation (1)

• Change in Customs environment
• Development in global trade, incl. e-commerce
• Predictability and further harmonization of the
  supply chain required
• Risk of terrorist and organized crime for all
  modes of transport
• Accomplishment by the Task Force
• Integrated Supply Chain Management Guidelines
  (former ACI Guidelines)
• Convention on customs mutual assistance
  (Johannesburg Convention)
• WCO Data Model
• Need for all members to implement supply chain
  measures in accordance with their capability and
  capacity building programs
• Establishment of a new High Level Strategic Group
  
• Provide leadership guidance
• Build upon the work of the Task Force
• Prepare an international framework for security
  facilitation within 12 months
• Develop, define standards on integrated supply
  chain security facilitation
• Make recommendations on capacity building

3
New resolution on supply chain security and
facilitation (2)

• High Level Strategic Group
• Consist of two customs directors-general from
  each WCO region
• Involve the private sector and other relevant
  organizations
• The first meeting held on June 26
• Member customs administrations
• Implement WCO instruments on security
  facilitation as early as possible
• Implement modern customs procedures, embodied in
  the revised Kyoto Convention
• Develop a national action plan
• Monitor, report to the Secretariat on the
  progress towards implementation
• WCO Secretariat
• Assistance, promotion of the High Level Strategic
  Group
• Monitor, evaluate progress on implementation by
  members
• Assistance to pilot projects by members
• Developments in other intergovernmental
  organizations
• Closer cooperation between border agencies,
  leading to single window
• Assistance to members in terms of guidance,
  advice and support on the financing of supply
  chain initiatives

4
Capacity building - a permanent item on the WCO
agenda

• Develop an understanding of capacity building
• Presence at various high-level conferences
• ICC Global Congress, UNCTAD XI
• Co-ordination with other organizations
• Develop and promote WCO instruments
• Customs modernization projects
• Message from the international Customs community
• Need for capacity building on the WTO trade
  facilitation agenda
• Customs Capacity Building Strategy
• Customs contribution to development policy
• Accurate diagnosis
• Sustainable human, financial and technological
  resources

5
Customs Capacity Building Diagnostic Framework

• A comprehensive and standardized diagnostic tool
  and project design/implementation guide (April
  2004)
• Cover a wide range of customs mission
• Country-specific solution
• Structure
• Guidelines for both diagnostic practitioners and
  Customs administrations (as a self-assessment
  tool)
• Diagnostic tool (diagnostic questions, common
  weaknesses, possible solutions and improvement
  options, reference material)
• Promotion of WCO instruments
• Time Release Study
• Revised Kyoto Convention
• 33 Members acceded
• Arusha Declaration on Integrity, etc.

6
Maintenance of the Diagnostic Framework

• Constantly updated - living document
• Experience will be gained through its future
  application in the field
• Changes in the Customs environment
• Wider application and quality control
• Promotion among Customs administrations, lending
  institutions and donors through appropriate
  forums
• Asia-Pacific seminar in October/November 2004
• WCO Secretariat involvement in diagnostic studies
  where appropriate
• Seminars/training for customs officials private
  sector consultants to maintain high-quality
  diagnostic activities
• Feedback from the field sought at national and
  regional level to further improve the Framework

7
Collaboration and co-ordination with other players

• Global Facilitation Partnership for
  Transportation and Trade (GFP)
• Develop mutual understanding of capacity building
  needs and tools and explore joint projects
• World Bank Modernization Handbook
• WCO instruments described as a global capacity
  building tool
• Consistent with and complementary to the WCO
  Diagnostic Framework
• Joint technical assistance
• WTO Customs valuation, trade facilitation
• World Bank others Diagnostic missions within
  the Integrated Framework
• World Economic Forum, USAID Integrity project
  in the Philippines

8
E-learning- WCO and Members

• Respond to ever-increasing need for training with
  limited resources by the active use of ICT
  (information and communication technology)
• WCO E-learning program
• Interactive multi-media training modules
• 1700 from 87 countries registered
• Modules available Customs controls, Valuation
  and audits
• Modules foreseen HS, Customs procedures, IPR
  etc.
• Combination with WCO regional training centers
• Face-to-face sessions E-learning

9
Regional approach - Regional Office for Capacity
Building (ROCB)

• Co-ordination of capacity building in the region
• Assistance to the recipient customs
• Improved communication with regional members
• More accurate diagnosis
• Liaison with donors other stakeholders
• Cost-effective use of expertise
• Active use of WCO Regional Training Centres
• Asia-Pacific (China, Hong Kong, India, Japan,
  Malaysia)
• East South Africa (Kenya, South Africa)
• Europe (Azerbaijan, Hungary, Russia)
• North Africa, Middle Near East (Lebanon)
• Review of WCO Secretariat structure
• Creation of a new directorate for capacity
  building
• Establishment of the Asia Pacific ROCB in Bangkok

10
For more information

• Supply chain security and facilitation Will
  Robinson, Policy Advisor, Compliance
  Facilitation will.robinson_at_wcoomd.org
• Diagnostic Framework Bob Mall, Deputy Director,
  Customs Modernization
  robert.mall_at_wcoomd.org
• E-learning Marc Declunder, Head of the
  Programme, E-learning Project
  marc.declunder_at_wcoomd.org
• Asia-Pacific Regional Office for Capacity
  Building (ROCB) Takashi Matsumoto, Head
  m-kazuma_at_zg8.so-net.ne.jp