As part of the WCO-Norad Project on Customs Capacity Building in Nicaragua, a mission was held 14-18 August 2017 to review the country's Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Pilot Programme. The WCO-Norad Project has been providing capacity building and technical assistance in support of this programme since 2013, including the development of a stakeholder engagement strategy and AEO training and sensitization.
The WCO worked with senior staff of Nicaraguan Customs (DGA) and representatives from the private sector to review the Pilot AEO Programme. The result included recommendations for a way forward that will see a revised pilot implemented with 3-6 key exporting companies initially.
The outcomes of this mission were integrated into the initial diagnostic that was conducted under the framework of the Mercator Programme. The diagnostic will help place Nicaragua on track to implement its commitments under the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). The TFA itself contains important provisions to which the AEO Programme, supported by the WCO-Norad Customs Capacity Building Project, naturally contribute. As the WCO-Norad Project comes to an end this year, linking with Mercator Programme activities will help ensure sustainability of these changes.
The WCO-Norad Customs Capacity Building Project 2012-17 aims at delivering technical assistance to seven countries: Timor-Leste, Liberia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Tanzania and Vietnam. For more information, please contact the Project Manager, Ms. Andrea Hampton (Andrea.Hampton@wcoomd.org).