Workshop on the World Customs Organization Revised Kyoto Convention

Representatives of the 10 CAREC member countries – Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, the People’s Republic of China, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, attended the workshop to

• raise their awareness and develop an understanding on what is required to comply with and accede to the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC),
• learn about self-assessment tools of the World Customs Organization (WCO) to guide countries during the accession process, and
• identify assistance their countries need to either complete RKC accession requirements or improve compliance.

The RKC, or International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures, is the basis for simplifying and harmonizing customs procedures, and for advocating best practice in customs administration. The adoption and implementation of the RKC by CAREC member countries will increase transparency and efficiency in customs administration, and will contribute in reducing transaction costs and enhancing trade security.

The workshop was coorganized by the Asian Development Bank and WCO.