WCO Secretary General, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya received Mr. John Fonseca, Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica at the WCO’s Headquarters, on Friday 9 December 2016, following a request for WCO assistance for the project of Digital Platform in SIECA countries (Central American Economic Integration System, which regroups Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama). The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of Costa Rica, H.E Istvan Alfaro Solano, WCO Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Sergio Mujica and other experts.

The Vice-Minister explained the three-step approach of this regional single window project, namely: interoperability of the member countries, identification of common process and implementation of the digital platform.  Secretary General Mikuriya emphasized the need for legal basis and coordination between the administrations concerned within and across member countries in a progressive manner. He offered WCO’s assistance in the technical areas where Customs and coordinated border management are concerned. Both sides agreed to designate contact points and study the project to make sure that it is based on the WCO standards and best practices.

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Photo (from left to right):

Mr. Miroslaw Zielinski, Expert; H.E. Mr. Istvan Alfaro Solano, Ambassador of Costa Rica to Belgium, Luxemburg and the EU; Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, WCO Secretary General; Mr. John Fonseca,Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica; Mr. Sergio Mujica, WCO Deputy Secretary General; and Mr. Alejandro Patiño Cruz, Trade Attaché, Embassy of Costa Rica.