On 17 November, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), in his capacity as the depositary of the Convention, received the Instrument of accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (Revised Kyoto Convention - RKC) from H.E Mr. Muktar Djumaliev, the Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Kingdom of Belgium at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
This important achievement, marked with the deposit of the Instrument of accession, follows the successful visit of the WCO Secretary General in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, at the beginning of November 2021, where he met with the H.E. Mr. Sadyr Japarov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic as well as other political leaders.
During his meeting with Ambassador Mr. Muktar Djumaliev, 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 a modern Customs administration in the 21st Century. Additionally, it complements efforts towards the implementation of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) that entered into force on 22 February 2017. With the accession of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Convention now has 129 Contracting Parties.
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.
In an international environment marked by the unprecedented situation due the COVID-19 pandemic, the WCO welcomes the fact that the number of Contracting Parties to the RKC continues to grow, especially as this instrument contains a dedicated Specific Annex (Annex J5) that provides core provisions for the management of relief consignments during emergency situations, and is at the core of the WCO’s Economic Competitiveness Package (ECP).
The WCO Secretary General strongly encourages those eligible to become a Contracting Party to accede to the RKC as soon as possible, given this instrument’s significance for Customs, and above all to implement its provisions.