4th meeting of ECO Council of Heads of Customs Administration (CHCA)

and World Customs Exhibition & Forum,

held in Baku, Azerbaijan on 16-18 May and 19-21 May, 2005

ECO Secretariat, Tehran, May 23, 2005

 

Press Release

   

 

            The 4th meeting of the ECO Council of Heads of Customs Administration was held in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan on May 16-18, 2005. The delegations of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Republic of Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Turkey and Republic of Uzbekistan alongwith the representatives of ECO Secretariat participated in the meeting. The Secretary General of ECO, H.E. Mr. Askhat Orazbay and the Secretary General, World Customs Organization, H.E. Mr. Michel Danet also participated in the closing session of the Council and delivered speeches.

 

            The meeting was inaugurated by the Chairman of State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Mr. Kamaladdin Heydarov. He highlighted the challenges of globalization and the need of regional cooperation in the field of customs, in his inaugural speech. The roles of the customs as facilitator of trade and security of the supply chain, were emphasized by the representatives of ECO in his opening remarks.

 

            The Heads of delegations of ECO member states briefed the meeting about the developments in the customs areas in their countries and stressed the need for an active customs cooperation among the member states.

 

            The meeting finalized the text of the draft Agreement on the establishment and operation of the ECO Smuggling and Customs Offences Data Bank, for signing, possibly during the 3rd Ministerial Meeting on Commerce and Foreign Trade. The meeting also finalized the protocol on ECO rules of origin for ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA), except the reservations made by Iranian and Pakistani delegates about the Article 14 and 23 and an additional article proposed by Iranian delegate.

 

            The meeting also discussed the removal of impediments in the way of intraregional transit trade and decided to focus on the implementation of TTFA. It also reviewed a UNDP Consultant report on simplification and harmonization of customs procedures and agreed to form a sub-committee of experts to further consider actions on the recommendations of the Consultant. Cooperation with WCO within the framework of MOU signed between ECO and WCO, cooperation with ADB and customs cooperation among the ECO member states were also considered during the meeting and it was decided to further strengthen this cooperation.

 

            In their closing remarks, the Chairman of State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Secretary General, ECO and Secretary General WCO stressed upon improving the professionalism of the Customs administrations.

 

            The Secretary General, ECO, H.E. Mr. Askhat Orazbay and ECO delegation participated in the World Customs Exhibition and Forum. The Secretary General also delivered a statement in the Forum highlighting the role of security and capacity building for customs cooperation among the ECO member states.

 

            On the sidelines of 4th CHCA Secretary General H.E. Mr. Askhat Orazbay met with Azerbaijan Foreign Minister, H.E. Mr. Elmar Mammedyarov and reviewed Azerbaijan participation in the ECO activities, particularly, Council of Ministers and Senior Officials Meetings. He also held meetings with other higher dignitaries of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

 

            The Secretary General together with other heads of delegations participating in World Customs Exhibition also was received by the President of Azerbaijan, H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliev.

              

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