Customs museums agree to strengthen communication and cooperation

Budapest, 9-11 July 2012

Report

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the World Customs Organization (WCO), the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary (NTCA) organized a meeting of Customs museums in the WCO Europe region in Budapest from 9-11 July 2012 with the theme “Our future rooted in our past”.

A welcome reception was held at the NTCA’s Museum of Hungarian Customs and Tax History with guests being treated to a concert given by the Finance Guard Wind Orchestra, which was followed by the meeting that took place at the WCO Regional Training Centre (RTC), the first RTC established in 2001 by the WCO.

Sergio Mujica, the Deputy Secretary General of the WCO, was invited to make opening remarks at the meeting that was chaired by Colonel Gábor Hóka, NTCA Deputy Head of the Department of International Relations, and attended by 13 Customs museums with the aim of further enhancing cooperation by looking back into Customs’ history to find the connection to its common heritage with the WCO.

In the spirit of cooperation and as part of the anniversary exhibition of items offered by participating Customs museums, the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan presented its collection of ancient decorative applied art.

At the closing of the meeting, representatives of the Customs museums signed the “Anniversary Declaration” to reaffirm their commitment to further strengthen cooperation, as well as explore opportunities to enhance communication among Museums to preserve Customs’ common heritage for future generations.

Whilst in Budapest, the WCO Deputy Secretary General held bilateral discussions with Mihály Arnold, the NTCA’s Vice-President of Customs, on key international Customs issues, including the WCO’s latest programmes and activities.

More information

Anniversary Declaration