The World Customs Organization (WCO) organized a National Workshop on the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (Revised Kyoto Convention - RKC), held from 23 to 27 March 2015 in Callao, Peru. The National Workshop brought together nearly thirty managers and executives from SUNAT (Tax and Customs Administration of Peru), and was assisted by two experts from the WCO Secretariat.

Responding the needs expressed by SUNAT, this workshop served to raise awareness of the importance and advantages of the RKC, to give participants a sound grasp of this instrument in order to expedite the country’s accession process, and to effectively prepare for implementation of this Convention as soon as possible. Additionally, the experts conducted a comparative analysis on the gaps between the provisions of the General Annex of the RKC and national legislation.

In the course of their presentations, the experts also stressed the prominent role played by the WCO in the preparations for implementation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) concluded in Bali, Indonesia. In particular, the MERCATOR Programme, given over to this activity, was presented to the participants.

The representative of SUNAT expressed their sincere gratitude to the WCO for all its technical assistance and capacity building support. The WCO Secretariat will continue to help SUNAT with their modernization efforts, and especially with implementation of the RKC.