At the invitation of the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Dikko Inde Abdullahi in his capacity as Regional Vice-Chair, Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya attended the Regional Conference of Directors General (DGs) of Customs in West and Central Africa, held in Yaoundé, Cameroon from 12 to14 March 2014. The Conference was preceded by the experts meeting, which prepared the financial report and draft recommendations to be adopted by the DGs.
On the first day of the Conference, the DGs discussed the Economic Competitiveness Package (ECP) with the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) as its core, and shared their administrations' related innovative practices. They also exchanged experience on performance measurement, an initiative piloted by Cameroon Customs with the assistance of the WCO and the World Bank.
On the second day of the Conference, the Secretary General reported on the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation (ATF) and the subsequent actions by the WCO in support of ATF implementation by Members. The DGs stressed the need to accede to the RKC in order to implement the ATF in a consistent manner. They also underlined the importance of Customs playing a central role in National Committees on Trade Facilitation.
The DGs also considered the question of the use of inspection companies, a problematic issue that continues to exist mainly in West and Central Africa. They shared experience on progressively terminating such contracts and ensuring that Customs regained its traditional functions through the building of its capacity.
The Conference elected Cameroon as the next Vice-Chair of the region and expressed gratitude to the Nigeria Customs Service for all the assistance and leadership that it had provided during its term as Vice-Chair. The participants also welcomed the DG of Equatorial Guinea who participated in the Regional Conference for the first time.
On the final day of the Conference, the Heads of Delegation were received by the Prime Minister of Cameroon, Mr. Philémon Yang. Following a report by the Secretary General on the work accomplished at the Conference, the Prime Minister said that Customs performed an indispensable function for States, particularly in the areas of revenue collection, trade facilitation and protection of society.
The Secretary General had a separate meeting with the Minister of Trade, Mr. Luc Mbarga Atangana, during which he highlighted the crucial role that Customs plays following adoption of the ATF, and the necessity for direct dialogue between Trade Ministries and Customs. The Minister reassured that, in Cameroon, there was no gap between Customs and his Ministry and he also indicated that once the National Committee on Trade Facilitation was established, he would invite Customs to chair the meetings of that body.
The Secretary General also met with the Minister for External Relations, Mr. Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, to seek his support for the early ratification of the RKC by Cameroon.
At the Conference closing ceremony, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Alamine Ousmane Mey, expressed his appreciation for the collaborative work accomplished by the DGs and reaffirmed his support for Customs modernization.
Finally, all the participants thanked the Government of Cameroon and the Director General of Customs, Mrs. Minette Libom Li Likeng, for the warm welcome and hospitality shown to them throughout their stay in Yaounde.