Brussels- H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed participated in the meetings of World Customs Organization (WCO) - Customs Co-operation Council held at Brussels in Belgium from June 25th-27th, 2009. Observers of international organizations from 174 countries around the world took part in the event; for instance, the World Trade Organization (WTO), World Bank, International Monetary Fund, IATA and others.
A number of worldwide fundamental customs issues were discussed during the meetings, the most significant of which was facilitating trade exchange according to the WCO standards where the foundation that governs coordination among customs centers was laid. Participants agreed on using the term Procedures Coordination instead of the Coherent Arrangement to define such foundation.
Participants have also discussed the world financial crisis and its impact on international trade. They stressed that customs authorities across the world need to build their capacity inline with development and enhancement as well as overcoming the current world financial crisis and its consequences and to inform the Organization with related outcomes while dealing with the financial recession. Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of WCO has recently presented the Organization's approach of tackling the financial crisis in a document entitled "Customs of the 21st Century" to the (G20) countries during the last meeting that was held in London. Such presentation was well-received by those countries' leaderships.
Moreover, participants talked about combating smuggling and piracy where they agreed to exchange essential expertise in this regard. Dubai Customs had a distinctive presence representing such an issue as it presented a work paper entitled "Educating the Community & Customers Satisfaction" which comes as part of the Best Implemented Practices at the Customs Departments to Combat Contraband & Counterfeit project. The audience commended the vital role Dubai Customs plays in combating contraband and piracy on the field of international trade.
WTO has confirmed that the customs practices adopted by the WCO are of a high importance and proficiency as the latter showed much commitment to facilitating international trade movements. This has put an end to much negotiation between both organizations in view of facilitating international trade.
As for Kyoto Convention; an instrument on the harmonization of customs techniques, Mr. Mikuriya called for members of the Organization to join the revised and updated version of the Convention. The Organization's Secretary General stated that in spite of the importance of this Convention as it reinforces customs partnership in external trade; only 60 countries out of 174 members have joined it up to this date.
On the other hand, Mr. Mikuriya presented a report on the initiatives outcomes on the field of empowering the customs capacity of the Palestinian people which partakes in the WCO activities. The participants were on consensus to boost the Palestinian customs efficiency while implementing customs regulations and facilitating trade. Such a thing would make it easier for the Palestinian authority to gain full membership of the Organization since it is currently an observer at the WCO.
Dubai Customs had a solid presence at the meetings for presenting its expertise with regards to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The Department showcased examples of related seizures and the campaign it promoted to combat such an illegal trade in order to sustain the environmental balance.
On the sidelines of the meetings, Mr. Sergio Muhika was elected Deputy Secretary General as a successful successor to Mr. Mikuriya who was recently appointed the Secretary General of the WCO.
H.E Ahmed Butti Ahmed has called for making use of the Canadian Customs and the World Bank as well as the International Monetary Fund expertise in coordinating customs practices in all customs ports and centers that scored huge success drawing a good example for others to follow and benefit from.
Commenting on Dubai Customs participation in the meeting, H.E Ahmed Butti Ahmed said:" Our contributions to this meeting are highly essential, the Department demonstrated its expertise on the field of combating piracy, counterfeit and fraud as well as the fruitful achievements accomplished to foster legal trade. Dubai Customs also presented the great efforts exerted to disseminate awareness of the dangers of contraband on the public health and environment, such a thing has cultivated a culture that is fully aware of the need to combat counterfeit and protect intellectual property rights that are considered individual and economic rights simultaneously."
H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed pointed out the Department's expertise and commitment to the international conventions and regulations of protecting endangered species of animals and plants especially CITES as it had foiled several bids of smuggling goods made of such endangered species. CITES is an international convention that is concerned with ensuring that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival to sustain the natural and human heritage. The Convention and its annexes list down the status of the most endangered species as well as prohibiting the use of fungal species goods regardless of the purpose whether for trading or personal. Dubai Customs is one of the most prominent authorities that implement CITES around the world.
H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed confirmed:" This meeting was a great opportunity for all customs managers across the world. It has formed a platform for exchanging expertise and opinions and reinforced relations among the various customs departments and members of the WCO."
