At the invitation of the Director General of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), Dr Bernard Vallat, WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya spoke as a guest of honour at the Opening of the 83rd General Session of the OIE in Paris, France, on 24 May 2015.
In his speech, Secretary General Mikuriya referred to the similarities between the two intergovernmental organizations, having the same number of Members (180) and setting standards for international trade in Customs and animal health respectively, with a shared mission of protecting society while promoting trade.
He also explained the WCO's Coordinated Border Management strategy, an inclusive approach for connecting stakeholders, and expressed his appreciation for the OIE's willingness to engage with the WCO. The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade Facilitation added another incentive for the two organizations to work closely together, as the Agreement contained two relevant provisions: one on border agency cooperation and another on the National Committee on Trade Facilitation, bringing together all border agencies.
Secretary General Mikuriya concluded by stating that he looked forward to strengthened cooperation between the WCO and the OIE, as it would boost collaboration between Customs and veterinary services at global, regional and national levels, and especially on the ground.
The President of the World Assembly of Delegates of the OIE, Dr Karin Schwabenbauer, commended the WCO Secretary General's speech and noted that it was a good introduction to the enhanced cooperation between the two organizations, which would become a reality at the WCO Council Sessions in Brussels this June.
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Dr Bernard Vallat , OIE Director General, and Dr Karin Schwabenbauer, President of the World Assembly of Delegates of the OIE, after the speech by WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya