In the framework of the International Customs Day, Customs administrations in America and the Caribbean expressed their commitment to strengthen the recovery, renewal and resilience of nations in 2021 for a sustainable international logistics chain.
The virtual event organized this Tuesday, January 26, by the Regional Vice Presidency of the World Customs Organization (WCO) allowed customs officials from the Americas and the Caribbean to express themselves, after the welcome of the Secretary General of the WCO, Kunio Mikuriya , who noted that “as we all move resolutely towards a post-pandemic future in 2021, the Customs community, in collaboration with its partners and stakeholders, will focus on recovering from the pandemic and supporting people and businesses by promoting renewal efforts throughout the global supply chain.”
“These efforts are aimed at developing the resilience and look for ways to boost the process of recuperación through enhanced collaboration and the adoption of digital transformation, along with other advanced technologies, to enable the renewal”, he said, adding that all this will be achieved by putting “people” at the centre of change for a positive and sustainable supply chain.
In that line, Ricardo Treviño, Deputy Secretary General of the WCOHe added: “68 years after the first session of the WCO, I join in the words regarding the importance of customs in ensuring the sustainability and supply of essential goods and vaccines and continue to highlight the importance of customs administrations in the economic recovery of the world.”
The continental commitment
Specifically, Werner Ovalle, head of the WCO Regional Office, said that customs in America and the Caribbean must implement measures through collaborative work, based on international best practices and experiences, so that the fulfillment of their functions, goals, modernization efforts and facilitation of goods and people is not interrupted.
“The year 2020 made us reflect on the new opportunities we have to fulfill our tasks, thanks to the technology that has allowed us to unite and train ourselves,” he stressed. He listed the following actions that show the region's progress in this regard:
- Creation of a regional customs laboratory in Peru;
- Upcoming accreditation of the dog training center in Argentina;
- Preparation of dispatch time study for Central America;
- efforts to achieve regional mutual recognition agreement;
- greater number of authorized economic operators;
- continuity of the Regional Private Sector Group.
"We are an entrepreneurial region. With the dynamism that characterizes us, let us continue working together for a digital, competitive and integrated region.”, concluded the Regional Vice President.
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