Brazil Customs, in cooperation with the National Confederation of Industry Brazil (CNI) and Procomex (Alliance to Modernize Brazilian Foreign Trade), held a seminar to launch Brazil's AEO programme in Recife, Brazil, on 10 December 2014, following the successful conclusion of the WCO Policy Commission earlier in the day at the same venue.
Mr. John Mein, Executive Coordinator of Procomex, a member of the PSCG, opened the panel of five speakers, referring to the "Spirit of Recife" emerging from the Policy Commission meeting on the enhanced partnership between Customs and business that is epitomized in the AEO Programme. From the private sector, a representative of the CNI talked about the challenge of achieving competitiveness through foreign trade in Brazil, and a representative of IBM, also a member of the PSCG, stressed the benefits to be derived from the AEO Programme.
From the public sector standpoint, WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya explained the general trend in global and regional trade and how the AEO programme can be beneficial in strengthening the service culture of Customs and compliance on the part of business, thereby jointly contributing to economic competitiveness through improved connectivity at borders.
The representative of US Customs and Border Protection spoke about the need for trade security and facilitation through implementation of the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards, including mutual recognition of AEO programmes. The Secretary of the Receita Federal (Brazil's Revenue Service), Mr. Carlos Barreto, expressed his keenness for Customs to play its part as a driver of competitiveness.
Following a presentation by the Director General of Brazil Customs, Mr. Ernani Checcucci, on the future development of the Brazilian AEO Programme, five companies were awarded the first Brazilian AEO certificates.
The seminar was attended by more than 100 participants, primarily from the private sector, but also included several Heads of Customs who had participated in the Policy Commission as well as senior WCO managers. They all congratulated Brazil on the launch of the AEO Programme, emphasizing its contribution to enhancing Brazilian competitiveness in global trade.