WCO and ICAO announce publication of the “Moving Air Cargo Globally” brochure
At the invitation of the Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Mr. Raymond Benjamin, the Secretary General of the WCO, Mr. Kunio Mikuriya attended the opening ceremony of the 38thICAO Assembly held in Montreal, Canada, on 24 September 2013, to launch the "Moving Air Cargo Globally" brochure jointly developed by the ICAO and the WCO. This joint brochure represents a milestone in cooperation between the two Organizations over the past two years, and reflects the need to enhance collaboration between Customs and Civil Aviation Authorities, involving business partners to strengthen security and facilitation of air cargo.
Following the opening ceremony of the triennial ICAO Assembly with more than 1,400 delegates from all over the world in attendance, the two Secretaries General held a joint press conference to highlight the progress of the work between the two Organizations in recent times.
Secretary General Benjamin hailed the enhanced working relationship with the WCO as an excellent example of international cooperation in air transport. Secretary General Mikuriya stressed the shared goal between the two Organizations of ensuring connectivity along the international trade supply chain to improve economic competitiveness and the need for cooperation at the national level. Prior to the press conference, the two Secretaries General agreed, during a bilateral meeting, to extend their cooperation to include issues relating to aviation safety. In this area, the ICAO regulates the transport of dangerous goods by air, while the WCO ensures the protection of society from the inflow and outflow of hazardous goods at borders.
The press conference was also attended by Mr. Oliver Evans, Chairman of The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), showing the industry’s strong support for the collaborative work between the ICAO and the WCO, as illustrated by the launch of the joint brochure.