At the invitation of Ms. Lilianne Ploumen, Netherlands Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation, Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya had a bilateral meeting in Brussels, on 19 May 2014.

This was a follow-up meeting to their discussion in Davos during the World Economic Forum where they discussed mechanisms to support Customs modernisation and the growth of international trade.

Mr. Mikuriya informed the Minister about the broad range of WCO instruments, tools, and activities which will assist WCO Members working towards the successful implementation of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation. Minister Ploumen acknowledged the contribution and important role of the WCO with regards to trade facilitation and capacity building. Mr. Mikuriya took the opportunity to thank the Netherlands for its significant financial contribution for a WCO project in West and Central Africa, which led to the consolidation of the region’s WCO Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB) in Abidjan, resulting in the formulation of a regional strategy for capacity building.

The Minister and the Secretary General agreed to maintain contact regarding the synergies and commonalities identified, especially in light of their close collaboration to-date.