The WCO Anti-corruption and Integrity Promotion (A-CIP) Programme for Customs has been actively working towards enhancing trade facilitation and combatting corruption in beneficiary countries. The Programme recently supported two missions in Antigua and Barbuda, yielding promising results.
From 28 August to September 1, a Mercator follow-up mission took place, with the aim of evaluating the progress made by the Antigua and Barbuda Customs and Excise Department (CED) since the diagnostic mission conducted in December 2018. During this mission, WCO experts assessed compliance with the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) and reviewed the high-level findings of the A-CIP Programme for Antigua and Barbuda. Participants openly addressed questions, emphasizing their commitment to embedding integrity in the Customs Modernization Program.
From September 4 to 6, 2023, a workshop on Consultation Mechanisms with stakeholders was held in St. John's as part of the A-CIP Programme for Customs. This workshop was in response to the identified needs of the CED to modernize and reform customs procedures by engaging key stakeholders. Over three days, midlevel managers and customs officials explored effective ways to cultivate relationships with stakeholders, aiming to improve efficiency. By using hypothetical scenarios based on real-world challenges, participants identified associated risks and inefficiencies in their daily responsibilities, emphasizing the link between institutional objectives and daily duties.
One of the core components of the A-CIP Programme is performance measurement. As such, a session to discuss the results of the Customs Integrity Perception Survey (CIPS) was facilitated by the A-CIP Programme.
These initiatives reflect the commitment of Antigua and Barbuda towards creating a conducive environment for cross-border trade, promoting integrity, and combatting corruption in customs.
The WCO A-CIP Programme currently supports more than 20 countries in five WCO regions, with funding from Norad and Canada. For more details on this significant effort to enhance integrity and combat corruption, please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org.