World Customs Organization holds workshop in Baku
By Leman Mammadova
World Customs Organization (WCO) launched a regional workshop on "Data Model" in Baku on June 10.
Experts and representatives from 17 countries are taking part in the workshop.
Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, General Mayor Igbal Babayev spoke about the special importance of the workshop organization in Azerbaijan.
He noted that the main purpose of the event is to create a single standard, framework for sharing information in the world.
“It is necessary to create a standard format on the digital link in the world so that the transmitted information is understood all over the world,” Babayev said.
He added that different countries will share their experiences, stressing that the Eastern European and Asian countries are very interested in the creation of this system.
Then representatives of the WCO Tejo Kusuma and Milena Budimirovic gave information on the purpose of the workshop, on the adoption of the Data Model of the Organization and on the work to be done.
The workshop, which will last until June 11, will focus on strategic benefits of the adoption of the WCO Data Model, the harmonization of global agenda and data on customs, information on the necessity of standardization, smart borders and other topics.
On the same day, the 5th meeting of the Expert Group on Non-Intrusive Inspection of the WCO began in Baku.
Speaking at the event attended by experts and delegates from 31 countries, Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee, General Mayor Javad Gasimov expressed his gratitude to the WCO for holding the meeting in Azerbaijan.
He said that one of the most important issues in the process of regulation of customs control is the implementation of non-intrusive inspections, their application.
Gasimov underlined that discussion of issues such as simplification of customs control, its completion in a short-term period as well as the application of new ICT-related technologies would be useful. He noted that the application of modern technologies, new equipment is very convenient in terms of both time and money savings in the process of customs control.
In turn, WCO experts Vyara Filipova and Milena Budimirovic said that the interstate data exchange, the preparation of new experts, and the organization of trainings on the subject matter are important issues.
The two-day workshop will feature the report of the 4th meeting of the Expert Group on Non-Intrusive Inspection. At the same time, the work done in the 2nd phase of the Unified File Format (UFF) Development Program as well as the scope of the 3rd stage of the Program and other issues will be discussed.
World Customs Organization, established in 1952 as the Customs Cooperation Council, is an independent intergovernmental body that acts as a global centre of customs expertise and the voice of the international customs community.
The WCO develops and maintains a range of instruments, standards and tools covering core customs subjects including, among others, commodity classification, valuation, rules of origin, compliance and enforcement, trade facilitation and capacity building among others.
With 17 founding members in 1952, WCO today includes more than 180 member customs administrations across the globe, divided into six geographical regions.
The State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan became a member to WCO in June 1992. It belongs to the WCO Europe region. The SCC is a very active WCO member and it contributes to WCO meetings and ongoing initiatives, ambitioning to have a leadership role in the region.
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Leman Mammadova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @leman_888
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