Twinning initiative to empower Customs

Italian experts will help restructure programs

The Customs office has launched a twinning project with the Italian Customs bureau. The project has a two-year span and aims at increasing the productivity of the local Customs bureau and improving the quality of it services.

The twinning project is expected to modernize Customs operations and procedures to match European standards, in preparation for the country’s bid to join the World Trade Organization. The project includes reengineering operations and reviewing procedures currently in place. It aims at providing a proper organizational framework for more efficiency and creating a suitable environment to improve trade activities.

The program also stipulates the analysis and review of the planning and organizational hierarchy, training, and capacity building activities, and encourages field visits.

Italian experts will help restructure the main relevant Customs programs in order to make them compatible with modern economic requirements. The project will also boost communication and internal and external information exchange.

The initiative is expected to be part of a series of programs, mainly the Mediterranean Initiative and Custom Med.