From 10 to 11 November 2022, within the SECO-WCO Global Trade Facilitation Programme (GTFP) framework, the WCO successfully conducted a regional workshop on the implementation of the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) with the participation of the Customs Administrations of El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama, who are actively working towards the RKC accession.

The workshop is part of the GTFP regional intervention in Central America, aimed at developing national and regional Customs capacities for the implementation of international standards related to simplification and harmonization of Customs procedures, in line with the RKC. The RKC promotes trade facilitation and effective controls through its legal provisions that detail the application of simple yet efficient procedures.

This activity was hosted in Guatemala with the support of the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA, per its Spanish acronym). During two days of dedicated work, the WCO experts provided technical guidance to the Customs Administrations focused on predictable and transparent Customs procedures based on the use of information technologies, risk management, and coordinated approach to controls along with other governmental agencies, private sector, and trade operators in general.

As a result of the workshop, the participating members were able to complete the WCO RKC self-assessment, identify next steps towards closing gaps and develop national and regional implementation roadmaps for ultimately acceding the RKC.

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