The Secretary General of the WCO Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, in his capacity as the depository of the Convention, received the Instrument of accession of Angola to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (Revised Kyoto Convention - RKC) on 23 February 2017, from the Ambassador of Angola to Belgium, H.E Ms. Maria Elizabeth Simbrão de Carvalho.
During a short meeting held in the WCO Secretary General office to mark the occasion, it was recalled that this international instrument is considered as forming the basis for effective, efficient and modern Customs procedures. Having entered into force on 3 February 2006, the Revised Kyoto Convention is a WCO legal instrument regarded by the entire international Customs Community as a blueprint for modern Customs in 21st Century, which complements countries’ efforts towards the ratification and the implementation of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) which entered into force on 22nd February. With the accession of Angola, the Convention now has 108 Contracting Parties.
In an international environment marked by the will to implement fairly quickly the TFA, the WCO welcomes the fact that the number of Contracting Parties to the RKC continues to grow, especially as this instrument is at the core of the WCO’s Economic Competitiveness Package (ECP). The WCO Secretary General Mikuriya strongly encourages the rest of the WCO’s Members to accede to the RKC as soon as possible, given this instrument’s significance for Customs, and above all to implement its provisions.
Amongst others, the Convention’s key elements include the application of simplified Customs procedures in a predictable and transparent environment, the optimal use of information technology, the utilization of risk management for efficient Customs control, a strong partnership with the trade and other stakeholders, and a readily accessible system of appeals.