The World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU) with the support of Customs Cooperation Fund of Korea (CCF Korea) organized a joint Customs-Post Workshop for Armenia. The Joint Workshop was attended by over 30 participants from Armenian Customs and HayPost.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Mikayel Pashayan, Deputy Chairman of the State Revenue Committee of Armenia, underlined the need for an electronic integration of Customs and Postal IT systems for the exchange of data to facilitate the clearance of postal items, while strengthening security of the postal chain through the optimal utilization of resources. He thanked the WCO and the UPU for organizing this Workshop to support the ongoing initiatives undertaken by Armenia. Mr. Juan Pablo Gechidjian, Trust Manager of HayPost and Mr. Hayk Avagyan, Acting Chief Executive Officer of HayPost also graced the opening ceremony.

Based on the current national situation of Armenia, the experts from the WCO and the UPU presented detailed information on their individual and joint instruments, standards, and tools relating to facilitation and security of postal items, in particular with respect to the exchange of advance electronic data and associated processes.

The Workshop examined various ways to implement advance electronic exchange of information (pre-loading/pre-arrival) between HayPost and Customs by using the UPU’s Customs Declaration System (CDS) based on the joint WCO/UPU Customs-Post EDI messaging standards and related tools, for an efficient risk management and improved service delivery.

Additionally, participants learned practical aspects of the implementation of the exchange of advance electronic data that included best practices and case studies on electronic data capture, transmission and use.

Currently, HayPost is testing the CDS and the Armenian Customs is implementing the Postal Items Clearance System (PICS). Based on the standards and tools shared at the Workshop, HayPost and Armenian Customs have outlined a broad action plan to interlink their systems and exchange advance electronic data on inbound and outbound postal items, once the CDS goes into full production phase. This will further facilitate effective risk management and faster clearance of legitimate postal items.