WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya spoke at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Ministerial meeting, held in Maputo, Mozambique on 24-25 August 2017. The objective of this meeting was to review the progress of the TICAD V Yokohama Action Plan and the TICAD VI Nairobi Implementation Plan as well as to seek to identify the actions needed to deliver better on the commitments made in TICAD V and VI.

In his intervention, Secretary General Mikuriya emphasized Customs contributions to economic development by ensuring connectivity at borders and improving business environment through various initiatives that pertain to the establishment of Single Windows, the implementation of the Transit Guidelines and the introduction of One Stop Border Posts.  He also stressed the crucial role Customs play in protecting human security, and enhancing social resilience by fighting illicit trade and trade-based illicit financial flows.  Dr. Mikuriya added that these two functions would eventually enlarge the tax base and prevent a loss of State revenue.  He therefore urged African governments to recognize the multiple missions of Customs.  Furthermore, he appealed to African governments to establish adequate legal frameworks to empower Customs, support coordination between Customs and the other government agencies, and provide the necessary resources for Customs to achieve its objectives

Secretary General Mikuriya took the opportunity to meet the President of the Mozambique Revenue Authority (MRA), Ms. Amelia Nankhare, to discuss the progress made in Customs reform through WCO assistance and possible future projects.  The Commissioner General of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Mr. Thomas Moyane, who was visiting Maputo for a bilateral meeting, partly joined the discussion on regional cooperation.

Dr. Mikuriya also visited the MRA’s Training Institute, accompanied by the MRA's Director General, Mr. Aly Malla, and his team. This Institute, which is yet to be inaugurated, is presented as one of the pillars to develop professionalism in the MRA.