AEO Regional Forum, Astana, 23-24 May 2013 - Declaration

At the invitation of Mr. Bolat Zhamishev, Minister of Finance of Kazakhstan, Deputy Secretary General Sergio Mujica attended the AEO (Authorised Economic Operator) European Regional Forum, organized by the Kazakhstan Customs Service with the support of the WCO Secretariat in Astana on 23-24 May 2013. The AEO Forum was held within the framework of the Sixth Astana Economic Forum, for which there were more than 12,000 registered participants from 132 countries.

The AEO European Regional Forum was attended by many Members of the WCO, as well as representatives from other international organizations and the private sector. The main themes discussed were the role of AEO in promoting global trade and competitiveness; Members' experience in implementing AEO programmes; and recent developments in the area of Mutual Recognition Agreement in respect of AEO programmes.

A Declaration was adopted at the end of the Forum in which AEO was recognised as an important security and facilitation tool to modernise Customs and to enhance economic growth. Mention was also made of the importance of further enhancing co-operation with a view to organizing similar events in the future to exchange ideas and best practices.

During his mission to Kazakhstan, the Deputy Secretary General also met with Mr. Mazhit Esenbaev, Chairman of the Customs Control Committee. The main topics discussed were the latest developments in the WCO and the various initiatives that Kazakhstan Customs is implementing to continue its process of modernization.