WCOJICA Project Enhances East African Customs Capacity

WCOJICA Project Enhances East African Customs Capacity

WCO-JICA cooperation is helping East African customs authorities cultivate customs audit experts, enhancing regional customs audit capabilities, and promoting trade development. The initiative focuses on strengthening the skills and knowledge of customs officers in conducting effective audits, thereby improving compliance and revenue collection. This collaboration aims to facilitate smoother trade flows within the East African region by ensuring fair and transparent customs procedures and combating illicit trade activities through improved audit practices. Ultimately, this contributes to economic growth and regional integration.

12/30/2025 Customs Knowledge
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MENA Customs Enhances Regional Ties to Spur Economic Growth

MENA Customs Enhances Regional Ties to Spur Economic Growth

The inaugural meeting of the MENA Customs Resource Mobilization Working Group was successfully held in Bahrain. The meeting focused on enhancing regional customs administration capabilities, promoting trade facilitation, and fostering economic integration. Participants discussed strategies for resource mobilization to support customs modernization and efficiency improvements. The initiative aims to strengthen customs cooperation within the MENA region, contributing to sustainable economic growth and regional stability. Key topics included best practices in revenue collection, risk management, and the use of technology in customs operations.

01/07/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO World Bank Boost Trade Facilitation Partnership

WCO World Bank Boost Trade Facilitation Partnership

A high-level meeting between the World Customs Organization and the World Bank Group aimed to deepen collaboration and jointly promote global trade facilitation. Both parties reviewed past achievements and discussed future cooperation directions, emphasizing autonomous approaches, coordinated border management, and customs-business partnerships. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening communication and collaboration, striving towards a future of enhanced trade facilitation. The meeting highlighted the importance of continued partnership in navigating the evolving landscape of international trade and ensuring efficient and secure global supply chains.

12/30/2025 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Urges Modernization to Boost Sri Lankas Economy

WCO Urges Modernization to Boost Sri Lankas Economy

WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya's speech at the Postgraduate Institute of Management, Sri Lanka, highlighted the importance of knowledge, communication, and integrity, exploring the role of customs modernization in post-conflict economic reconstruction. Through the Master of Customs Administration program, research seminars, and meetings with government officials and business representatives, the Secretary General emphasized the crucial role of knowledge-driven approaches, public-private partnerships, and international cooperation in building an efficient trade environment. These elements are vital for fostering economic growth and stability in the region.

12/30/2025 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Committee Advances Global Trade Facilitation Plans

WCO Committee Advances Global Trade Facilitation Plans

This paper provides an in-depth interpretation of the agenda of the 243rd/244th sessions of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Permanent Technical Committee, focusing on key issues such as trade facilitation, e-commerce, and digital customs. It analyzes the latest developments and future trends in global trade facilitation, providing valuable references for businesses and government departments. The paper highlights the WCO's role in promoting efficient and secure trade procedures in the digital age, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in achieving these goals.

12/30/2025 Customs Knowledge
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Americas Caribbean Boost Crossborder Ecommerce Supply Chains

Americas Caribbean Boost Crossborder Ecommerce Supply Chains

The Americas and Caribbean Customs-Postal Strategy Conference highlighted the crucial role of customs-postal cooperation in fostering cross-border e-commerce. The WCO emphasized data-driven approaches and standardized frameworks, while the UPU and PUASP focused on process optimization and combating smuggling. Participants committed to strengthening collaboration to build a more efficient and secure global postal supply chain, laying the groundwork for the future development of cross-border trade. This includes enhanced data exchange and harmonized procedures to facilitate smoother and safer international transactions.

12/30/2025 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Enhances Border Security with Trade Control Training

WCO Enhances Border Security with Trade Control Training

The World Customs Organization's (WCO) Strategic Trade Control Enforcement (STCE) Expert Training and Certification Program aims to develop a professional workforce and enhance member customs' enforcement capabilities to combat the illicit trade of items related to weapons of mass destruction. Through systematic training and rigorous certification, the program builds a sustainable training system, promotes international cooperation, and drives the unification of STCE standards, contributing to global security. This initiative fosters a global network of trained experts dedicated to preventing the proliferation of sensitive goods.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Global Customs Agencies Pledge Faster Disaster Relief Clearance

Global Customs Agencies Pledge Faster Disaster Relief Clearance

The World Customs Organization (WCO) pledged to expedite customs clearance for disaster relief goods at the World Humanitarian Summit, emphasizing communication, coordination, and protection. The WCO will gather experiences, provide training, and launch an assistance project in West Africa. The Secretary General called for international cooperation to build an efficient and reliable global humanitarian relief system, leveraging data analysis to improve rescue efficiency. The WCO aims to streamline processes and foster collaboration to ensure aid reaches those in need quickly and effectively during times of crisis.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Enhances Customs Risk Management in Americas Caribbean

WCO Enhances Customs Risk Management in Americas Caribbean

With funding from the Japan Customs Cooperation Fund, the World Customs Organization (WCO) held a pre-accreditation workshop on risk management for technical advisors in the Americas and Caribbean region in Guatemala. The workshop aimed to expand the WCO's pool of experts and enhance the risk management capabilities of member customs administrations. Participants' technical knowledge, skills, and teamwork abilities were assessed during the seminar, laying the foundation for regional customs modernization efforts.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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WCO Belgian Customs Academy Boost African Customs Training

WCO Belgian Customs Academy Boost African Customs Training

WCO, in collaboration with the Belgian Customs Academy, provides training to African customs officials to enhance their capabilities. Recently, officials visited the WCO headquarters to deepen cooperation, focusing on areas such as digital transformation. This partnership aims to strengthen customs administration in Africa and facilitate trade by building a skilled workforce and promoting modern practices. The collaboration underscores the WCO's commitment to supporting Africa's development through effective customs management and capacity building initiatives.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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