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The world customs organization is a non governmental organization
working closely with governmental and non governmental partners such
as; the world trade organization, united nation's organizations, the
world bank and the academic institutions…etc.
It was established in 1952 in Brussels under the title "Customs
Cooperation Council", however, in 1994 a new title was assigned to
the organization and since then it has been known as "World Customs
Organization" that comprises 170 customs administration from all
over the world.
The mission of the WCO is to enhance effectiveness and efficiency of
customs administrations in terms of the implementation of trade
regulations, develop and sustain the basic standards of facilitating
and unifying customs systems and procedures.
The WCO adopted the geographical division of the world that
comprises six regions and accredited one customs administration from
each region as a regional representative of the organization and the
director general of the same administration is the regional
representative as well as deputy president of the WCO; these regions
are:
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South America, North America, Central America and the Caribbean
which comprises 30 countries and is currently represented by Canada.
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Europe and comprises 50 countries and is currently represented by
Hungary.
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North Africa, Near an Middle East that comprises 17 country and
is currently represented by Jordan.
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West and Central Africa that comprises 21 countries and is
currently represented by Ghana.
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East and Southern Africa that comprises 21 countries and is
currently represented by Rwanda.
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Far East, South and South East Asia, Australia and Pacific
Islands that comprises 31 countries and is currently represented by
India.
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The regional representative for each region is selected from country
members of the region through an election process; Jordan Customs is
the regional representative of the World Customs Organization for
North Africa, Near and Middle East.
On 28/06/2006, the country members of the region unanimously elected
Jordan customs represented by the Director General Eng. Alaa A.
Batayneh as the regional representative as well as the Deputy
President for a fourth session successively. The election came
because of the remarkable efforts made by Jordan Customs including
accrediting the Customs Regional Training Center in Beirut as well
as the inclusion of Arabic translation into the works of the
Valuation as well as the Rules of Origin Committees. In fact, it is
the first time in the history of the WCO that a Customs
Administration is elected for the fourth time successively.
The regional office aims at; increasing cooperation, exchange of
expertise and coordination among the customs administration of the
region. In addition to organizing meetings of the Directors General
of the region and meetings of the Policy Commission, the High level
Strategic Group and liaising between the customs administrations of
the region and the WCO regarding topics of mutual interest such as
writing to the WCO regarding the reactivation of the membership of
the Iraqi Customs.
The regional office coordinates and prepares for holding training
courses and workshops in the countries of the region in addition to
Coordinating regarding the attendance of the sessions of the WCO
Commissions and other important meetings. The regional office
provides the Customs Magazine with a variety of topics including
asking the customs administrations of the region to provide the
Magazine with Customs related topics so as to constitute the core
for a future regional magazine.
The regional office, in coordination and cooperation with customs
administrations of the region as well as the WCO, implements
training plans, conferences and workshops
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