The inaugural event of the SECO-WCO Global Trade Facilitation Programme (GTFP) in Peru was held on 30th October 2019 in Lima. This flagship capacity building project is funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and implemented by the World Customs Organization (WCO). The GTFP aims at providing the Customs Administration of Peru with technical assistance and required organizational capacities and resources to increase compliance with the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and the WCO Revised Kyoto Convention.

The ceremony was attended by over 40 representatives from the government and private sector who joined the celebration of the tripartite Memorandum of Understanding between SECO, the WCO and the National Superintendency of Customs and Tax Administration (SUNAT). This Memorandum establishes the overarching cooperation framework for the project in Peru and provides both technical and political endorsement to the objectives and upcoming activities of the GTFP in the country. SECO was represented at the highest level by the Swiss Ambassador in Peru, Mr. Markus-Alexander Antonietti, and SUNAT by the National Superintendent of Customs, Mrs. Claudia Suarez. In their opening remarks, both parties welcomed this collaboration highlighting the important benefits it will achieve for a more efficient and competitive business environment and to integrate Peru even more into global value chains.

The event was proceeded by the establishment and first meeting of the National Programme Steering Committee, comprising members from SUNAT, SECO and the WCO, as well as from other entities involved in trade facilitation and customs modernization in Peru. This Committee validated the work plan for the following three years that has been previously agreed between the WCO and SUNAT as the main counterparty and direct beneficiary of the GTFP.  

With the plan approved, the WCO has now green light to start implementing the capacity building support in priority areas identified during the scoping mission, such as risk management and coordinated border management. A number of national and regional workshops pertaining to organizational development will also be conducted to provide SUNAT with the essential skills to guarantee the sustainability of changes supported by this programme.

For more information on the GTFP please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org