4th WCO AEO Global Conference 2018, Uganda

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2 Contents Foreword by the Commissioner General 5 Executive summary by Commissioner Customs 7 Theme 8 Date 8 Language 8 Cost 8 Conference Venue 8 Target Audience 8 About Uganda 9 Why you should attend the conference 26 How to take part in the conference 26 Contacts 27 Notes 28 WCO 4th Global AEO Conference 2018, Uganda

3 4 5 Foreword by the Commissioner General Revenue Administration in the 21st century calls for speed and ultimate precision. The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) over the past 25 years has become a benchmark nationally, regionally and beyond for continuously developing and implementing integrated set of policies, procedures, and initiatives that ensure efficient revenue collection and effective trade facilitation. Since March 2012, URA has been implementing the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Program which stems from the World Customs Organization (WCO) SAFE Framework of standards to secure and facilitate global trade. The AEO program is widely acknowledged for enhancing solid Customs-business partnerships, creating a transparent and predictable trading environment and facilitating a secure supply chain. Uganda will be hosting the 4th WCO AEO Global conference which seeks to provide a unique opportunity for stakeholders from all over the world to interact, network and exchange experiences on the dynamic developments of the AEO program. The conference comes at a time when URA s strategic direction is to promote a culture of tax compliance while at the same time enhancing corporate governance. URA is also seeking to cultivate a taxpaying culture through provision of reliable services, leadership development and building strategic partnerships. The AEO program is a yardstick for strategic partnerships not only at the national level but also at the regional and the global scale. It is therefore our pleasure to host this forum that brings together government officials, academicians, Private sector players, Customs policy regulators and implementers, among others.; to discuss how to Promote International Mutual Recognition of AEO schemes for sustainable and secure global trade. Doris Akol - Commissioner General, URA

4 6 7 Executive summary by Commissioner Customs The WCO SAFE Framework of standards has altered the global Customs business beyond imagination. Customs Administrations around the world have adopted a harmonized approach of a Customs to Customs cooperation and Customs to Business partnerships through the AEO Program. The Ugandan AEO program is robust and mature with twenty-eight (28) accredited AEO Companies on the national program three (3) of which are enjoying recognition and benefits from across the East African Region. The AEO program is one of the many trade facilitation initiatives undertaken by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) over the past 25 years. Today, URA is acclaimed for it s numerous initiatives that are geared towards facilitating trade and seamless Passenger clearance at all entry and exit points. Some of the notable initiatives are; Automation of the clearance processes with ASYCUDA World Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) The One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) The Central Document Processing Centre Single Customs Territory (SCT) Uganda Electronic Single Window East African Community AEO The above trade facilitation initiatives create an enjoyable and harmonious business environment for all our stakeholders. These have yielded results such as; a reduction in the cost of doing business, real time cargo monitoring, swifter clearance of cargo, etc. After the successful closure of the 3rd WCO AEO Global conference in Mexico, Uganda was granted the opportunity to host the 4th WCO AEO Global Conference to further the discussions on the success of the AEO Program amidst the increasing global security threats. Mr. Kateshumbwa Dicksons - Commissioner Customs, URA

5 8 9 The Global conference slated for March 2018 in Kampala is not only a mere recognition of the far we have come, but it presents us with the opportunity as government and multilateral policy makers, Customs administrations, senior international logistics executives, trade compliance and supply chain managers, corporate trade experts, IT providers, academicians, economists, and legal advisors; to set our mark on the global stage of trade facilitation. Theme: The 4th WCO AEO Global conference will focus on Promoting Mutual Recognition of Robust AEO Programmes to Strengthen and Secure Global Trade. Date: March, Language: The conference will be held in English, French and Spanish Cost: Attendance to the conference is Free. Venue Kampala Serena Hotel About Uganda Uganda is a landlocked country located in the East African region, neighboring Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This makes it the hub that links trade across the regional states and hence a driver of trade facilitation in the region. Target Audience The conference will bring together Heads of Revenue and Tax Authorities, Customs Administration, Government and Multilateral Policymakers, Senior International Logistics, Trade Compliance and Supply-Chain Managers, Chief Executive Officers from Companies in the trade supply chain, Authorised Economic Operators, multilateral financial institutions, Corporate and Trade Organization Executives, Supply-Chain IT Providers, Legal Advisors, Academia and Economists and the Business Community. This conference is expected to attract about 1500 participants from over 169 countries around the globe.

6 10 11 Uganda is known for its beautiful scenery such as Mt. Rwenzori in the western part of the country coupled with the different species of wildlife that inhabit in the numerous national parks including; Queen Elizabeth National Park which runs through the great western rift valley and Kidepo national park located in the North Eastern part of Uganda. The country also boasts of forests such as Bwindi impenetrable forest national park; the home of the Gorillas, Budongo forest the home of chimpanzees. The beautiful scenery that is Mt. Rwenzori

7 12 13 The country is sanctified with fresh waters of River Nile that act as a fresh water source for eleven countries, namely, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo-Kinshasa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt. In particular, it is the primary water source of Egypt and Sudan flowing from Lake Victoria which is Africa s largest lake by area, the world s largest tropical lake, and the world s second largest fresh water lake by surface area, after Lake Superior in North America. The country has an excellent multi-cultured diversity of the people which include but are not limited to; the Bantu-speaking majority who live in the Central, Southern and Western parts of the country; and non-bantu speakers who occupy the Eastern, Northern and North-western parts of the country. Kampala is the capital city of Uganda and the town where the AEO Global conference is going to be hosted. The city occupies a series of hills at an elevation of about 3,900 feet (1,190 metres) and is situated in the Central part of the country, just North of Lake Victoria. Kampala lies just North of Mengo, the capital of the Kingdom of Buganda in the 19th century. It was selected in 1890 by Capt. Frederick (later Lord) Lugard as the headquarters of the Imperial British East Africa Company. Lugard s fort on Old Kampala Hill remained the Ugandan colonial administrative headquarters until 1905, when it was moved to Entebbe. In 1962, Kampala (a municipality since 1949) became the capital of independent Uganda. Parliamentary and commercial buildings, industry, and residential areas are separated into sectors. Situated in the country s most prosperous agricultural section, Kampala exports Coffee, Cotton, Tea and Sugar. Although second industrially to Jinja (52.4 miles [84.4 km] eastnortheast), the city has numerous food, metal-products, and furniture enterprises and a tractor-assembly plant. It is the headquarters for most of Uganda s large firms and the chief market for the Lake Victoria region. Kampala has a technical institute and is the seat of Makerere University, which was founded in 1922 and became a university college in 1949 and a university in 1970; for many years it was the only such educational institution in East Africa. Kampala also has the Uganda Museum. The city is home to several mosques (including the white Kibuli Mosque), Hindu temples, and Christian churches (notably Namirembe Anglican Cathedral and Rubaga and St. Peter s Roman Catholic cathedrals). Kampala is the hub of the nation s road network and lies on the railway from Kasese to Mombasa, Kenya. It is also served by an inland port, Port Bell (7 miles [11 km] east) on Lake Victoria and by Uganda s international airport at Entebbe (25.2 miles [40.6 km] southsouthwest).. Lake Victoria in Uganda

8 14 Kampala City Skyline 15

9 16 17 The excellent multi-cultured diversity of the Uganda people

10 18 Zebras in Kidepo valley National Park 19 Uganda boasts of a wide range of wild animal and bird species

11 20 21 The crater lake in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

12 22 23 Conference Venue: Kampala Serena Hotel is the venue for the 4th WCO AEO Global conference in Uganda. The hotel is on Kintu Road on Nakasero Hill, in the centre of Kampala nestled among 17 acres (6.9 ha) of lawns and gardens. The hotel is adjacent to the Kampala Sheraton Hotel and the Imperial Royale Hotel. It is in the Kampala Central Division, one of the five administrative divisions of the city. The coordinates of the Kampala Serena Hotel are N, E (Latitude: ; Longitude: ) and the distance from Entebbe to the Kampala Serena hotel is 40.6Km. Drawing its architectural inspiration from the abundance of Uganda s lakes and rivers, the hotel has been created around a central water theme, which manifests itself both in the extensive water gardens and in the hand-carved panels and shimmering mosaics with which it is decorated. The hotel has free wireless internet as well as international cuisine spiced up with an African cuisine served up at the stunning gourmet fine-dining restaurant. An inspirational blend of 5-star polish and pan-african panache, this world-class hotel will showcase the cream of Ugandan culture while delivering the ultimate in personalized service, international cuisine, social style and business reliability.

13 24 25 THE AEO PROGRAM Over time the AEO Program around the globe has provided a platform to ensure more accurate trade and security information is sustained and shared among its members to support the risk management initiatives that focus on minimizing revenue loss as well as containing cross border security by the different border administration bodies. The Uganda Revenue Authority has undertaken a number of initiatives to enhance global trade by promoting voluntary compliance of the different players in the international trade scene; key among which is the Authorised Economic Operator Program (AEO) both at the National & Regional level. This has been achieved through the second pillar of the SAFE (Customs to Business Partnership) Currently, there are 69 countries implementing Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programs worldwide including Uganda. The Uganda Customs AEO Program was officially launched in March As of April 2016, 28 companies are registered on the aeo program and the momentum to acquire this status by other companies has gone high. This has resulted into steady increment in the Customs collections as well as a reduction in clearance time. At the regional level, 5 (five) member states of Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi and Tanzania are implementing the AEO regional program that allows AEOs to be recognized in each of the countries. Customs AEO Program is committed to a reliable, faster secure supply chain; making Uganda a friendly business destination. The operators have appreciated the positive changes in the total clearance time for their consignments and the need to be more compliant to the Customs laws and procedures as well as maintenance of global security while transacting under international trade. So with the hunger to maximize the benefits accorded to the operators, there has been an increasing request to get the same kind of treatment from other trading blocs under the Mutual Recognition arrangements.

14 26 27 Why you should attend the conference The conference will offer a platform to; Foster collaborative partnerships among the different trading blocs. Participants will have an opportunity to deliberate and share experiences on how best they can facilitate the Operators from the different trading blocs. Learn from progressive AEO implementation strategies of different countries and challenges of Customs administrations in managing risk amidst the changing business environment. Network with key economic players, industry leaders, and opinion leaders to enhance business relationships from all over the world. Discover and appreciate emerging trends in trade from across the world. Showcase your business to a global audience. Experience the diverse and magical serenity of the Pearl of Africa. Participants will get a chance to visit and appreciate the unique features of Uganda. How to take part in the conference One can take part in the conference as; 1. Principal sponsor 2. Associate Sponsor 3. Key Note Speakers 4. Delegate 5. Promotional Partner 6. Exhibitor 7. Co-knowledge partner 8. Supporting Associate 9. Media Partner Contacts Dicksons Collins Kateshumbwa Commissioner Customs Department Uganda Revenue Authority P.O. Box 7279, Kampala Tel: Land line: / dkateshumbwa@ura.go.ug Sarah Birungi Banage Assistant Commissioner Public & Corporate Affairs Uganda Revenue Authority P.O. Box 7279, Kampala Tel: Land Line: / sbanage@ura.go.ug For further enquiries send an to: aeo2018@ura.go.ug Useful Links:

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