On 20 April 2015, the new Secretary-General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, Dr. Patrick Gomes, visited WCO Headquarters for discussions with Secretary General Mikuriya on topics of mutual interest, with a view to further enhancing cooperation between the two Organizations on the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two Organizations in 2012.

Secretary General Gomes, the former Ambassador of Guyana in Brussels, was accompanied by the ACP Assistant Secretary General in charge of the Department of Sustainable Economic Development and Trade, Mr. Viwanou Gnassounou.

A wide range of subjects were discussed, including trade facilitation, rules of origin, the value chain, informal trade, regional integration, and the trade in services, the latter being linked to the trade in goods.

Both Secretaries General agreed on the importance of strengthening the working relationship between the two Brussels-based Secretariats.

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WCO and ACP Group Secretaries General met in Brussels on 20 April 2015 with a view to further enhancing cooperation between the two Organizations.