The World Customs Organization (WCO) started remote assistance to support the Bolivian Customs Administration on its capabilities Time Release Study (TRS), a tool and method for measuring the performance of customs activities in their direct relationship with trade facilitation at the border.
The course, part of the work plan of the Global Trade Facilitation Program (GTFP) of the SECO-OMA with Bolivia, was held from 2August 4-27, 2020, with the participation of middle management and more operational tactical personnel involved in the Clearance of goods at major ports of entry in the country located in the center of South America, the international organization reported.
«Throughout the week, the WCO experts transferred their knowledge on the TRS Guide, providing participants with a comprehensive overview of the TRS methodology, benefits and Customs business processes and capabilities needed for proper implementation of the tool," the statement said. And it highlighted: "Bolivian officials had the opportunity to share the Current TRS Trade Procedures within the Customs Administration, as well as the challenges, objectives and possible paths to follow for Bolivia to carry out a TRS."
He added that the participants from the Bolivian Customs Administration increased their knowledge and understanding of the WCO TRS methodology and expressed their desire to obtain approval from the national Customs for the establishment of a Customs TRS Working Group within the Administration in order to carry out the first TRS. To this end, a preliminary version of a roadmap for carrying out a TRS was developed and presented, indicating possible relevant actions to support its implementation.
The assistance provided is in line with the recommendations previously made to the Bolivian Customs Administration and is part of the general objective of the GTFP of Help Bolivia achieve better and more efficient customs procedures, as well as increasing compliance with the WTO TFA, the WCO text concluded.
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