On 9 March 2022, during the ongoing 28th Revised Kyoto Convention Management Committee’s Meeting, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), in his capacity as the depositary of the Convention, received the Instrument of Accession of the Union of Comoros to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (Revised Kyoto Convention - RKC) from H.E Mr. Mohamed Chatur BADAOUI, Ambassador of the Union of the Comoros to the Kingdom of Belgium, at WCO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
During the Secretary General’s meeting with the Ambassador, the Secretary General noted that the RKC is considered as the blueprint for a modern Customs Administration, as it includes key elements for the application of simplified customs procedures in a predictable and transparent environment, the optimal use of information technology, the utilization of risk management for efficient Customs control, a strong partnership with the trade and other stakeholders, and a readily accessible system of appeals.
The Ambassador expressed his appreciation to the WCO for the technical support offered to the Union of the Comoros indicating that it was vital in ensuring a faster accession process to the Convention. He also indicated that his country was ready to start implementing the provisions of the Convention.
Facing a global challenge due the COVID-19 pandemic, the WCO welcomes the growing number of Contracting Parties to the RKC, especially as it provides core provisions for the management of relief consignments during emergency situations and is at the core of the WCO’s Economic Competitiveness Package (ECP). Having entered into force on 3 February 2006, and with the accession of the Union of Comoros, the Convention now has 130 Contracting Parties.
Mr. Souef Kamalidini, Minister of Finance of Comoros, appointed in 2021 after serving as Director General of Customs for five years, sent a special thanks to the WCO for its technical support in acceding to the RKC.
The WCO Secretary General strongly encourages those eligible to become a Contracting Party to accede to the RKC as soon as possible given this instrument’s significance for Customs, and, above all, to implement its provisions.