Brussels, 22 October 2012

The World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) signed a Protocol of Intent in Moscow on 22 October 2012 to enhance cooperation between the two organizations.

The signing ceremony which was attended by the Secretary General of the WCO, Kunio Mikuriya, and the Executive Secretary of the CIS, Sergei Lebedev, took place during the Secretary General’s visit to the Executive Committee of the CIS.

The CIS currently comprises 11 member states, all former Republics of the erstwhile Soviet Union, and one of the focus areas of its Executive Committee is the economic integration of the member states.

"Customs plays a crucial role in economic integration," said WCO Secretary General, Kunio Mikuriya. "While the CIS will promote WCO instruments among its members to promote economic integration and cooperation, the WCO will provide assistance where appropriate in the implementation of its tools," he added.

This Protocol forms part of the WCO’s partnership approach to promote its global Customs standards as essential measures to facilitate regional integration and cooperation.

Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya visited the Executive Committee of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Moscow on 22 October 2012. He concluded a Memorandum of Understanding with its Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev to enhance cooperation between the two organizations.

CIS is currently composed of 11 member states of the former Soviet Union Republics. One of the focus areas of its Executive Committee is economic integration of the member states. As Customs plays a crucial role in economic integration, CIS will promote WCO instruments among its members to promote economic integration and cooperation while WCO will provide assistance where appropriate in the implementation of its tools.