World Customs Organisation
The World Customs Organization (WCO) is the only independent intergovernmental body which is exclusively focused in the Customs matters. This organization is mainly distinguished for the work in areas that cover the development of global standards, simplification and harmonization of customs procedures, supply chain security, international trade facilitation, anti-smuggling and piracy initiatives, promotion of integrity and global custom programs for capacity building.
The WCO also maintains the international nomenclature for the Harmonized Commodity System and manages the technical aspects of the World Trade Organization agreements on customs value and rules of origin.
The history of the WCO begins in 1947 when 13 European Governments established the Study Group to create one or more European Customs Unions, which after many years of activity and joining by many states, in 1994 changed the name in the World Customs Organization.
Today, the WCO represents 182 Customs administrations across the globe that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade. As the global centre of Customs expertise, the WCO is the only international organization with competence in Customs matters and can rightly call itself the voice of the international Customs community. Albania is a member of the WCO since August 1992 and since that time has been actively participating in meetings of the WCO Board, Committees and Subcommittees, benefiting from the best experiences of developed countries and implementing them in our customs system.
Our country also contributes with providing information in the preparation of six-month and annual WCO reports on the implementation of various laws and agreements on customs violations.
During the last years, Albanian Customs has been intensively involved in various WCO training programs that aim to invest in senior managers and to expand their capabilities, skills and knowledges in order to participate actively in the reform and modernization process of their administrations. Our candidates have demonstrated devotion and have successfully succeeded in meeting the objectives of these programs by preparing study reports and demonstrating technical knowledge. Some representatives of the Albanian Customs Administration have been part of WCO Scholarship Program.
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