Lima, 26 October 2010

Report

WCO Secretary General, Kunio Mikuriya, visited the headquarters of the Andean Community in Lima, Peru on 26 October 2010 to revitalize the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation signed in 2005 between the two organizations.

Following discussions with Ana Maria Tenenbaum, the Director General of the Andean Community, Secretary General Mikuriya attended the Andean Customs Committee meeting with Directors General of Customs from four Andean member countries, namely Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador and Peru. These countries have recently moved towards Customs reform to facilitate and secure trade in a competitive environment with a review of their Customs business processes and their Customs Code. During the review they identified risk management, the use of non-intrusive inspection technology and the establishment of AEOs and the single window as major priorities.

Secretary General Mikuriya stated that since many countries are increasingly working towards regional integration, it would be beneficial for regional economic groups to base their Customs procedures on the global standards, including the WCO Revised Kyoto Convention, to ensure market connectivity.

Both organizations agreed to continue their dialogue and the identification of common projects to support the Customs reform of member countries of the Andean Community. In addition, the WCO would continue its existing bilateral cooperation with the four countries.