10 November 2021 marks an important day in the ever-increasing cooperation between Ukraine, Switzerland and the WCO, as the State Customs Service of Ukraine officially welcomed the SECO-WCO Global Trade Facilitation Programme (GTFP) in the country.
This flagship capacity building project is funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and implemented by the World Customs Organization (WCO). The GTFP aims at providing the State Customs Service of Ukraine with technical assistance and required organizational capacities and resources to increase compliance with the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and the WCO Revised Kyoto Convention.
The high-level inaugural event was attended by representatives of the Government of Ukraine, notably from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economy and relevant stakeholders. The representative of the SECO Headquarters was also present on that occasion and in conjunction with the Ukrainian Customs Service emphasised the important progresses and benefits this collaboration will accomplish in the implementation of the national customs strategic goals and trade priorities for a more efficient and competitive business environment.
Such priorities had been identified during the WCO Mercator Stocktaking Mission carried out in April 2021, which had allowed the WCO experts to identify the main GTFP areas of support and, together with the State Customs Service of Ukraine, establish a national work plan comprising trade facilitation and organisational development activities to be implemented over the next two years.
For more information on the GTFP, please, contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org.