Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Uzbekistan to the Benelux countries Dilyor Hakimov held a meeting with the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Kunio Mikuriya, reports Dunyo news agency.

The meeting discussed issues of further development of mutually beneficial cooperation between Uzbekistan and the WCO, improving the customs service of our country.

Uzbekistan has acceded to the Convention establishing the Customs Cooperation Council in July 1992 and is actively participating in the activities of the World Customs Organization, and is also a party to more than 20 international conventions on customs issues.

One of the significant events of cooperation with the WCO was the visit of Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya to Uzbekistan in March this year. He stressed that during his stay in the country he saw great changes in the socio-political and socio-economic spheres, as well as the regional interaction of Uzbekistan with neighboring countries. “The country has become more open to the outside world,” said the Secretary General.

“Uzbekistan is located in the heart of Central Asia, occupying a strategic position and connecting Asia with Europe,” says K. Mikuriya. “The country is paving the way for expanding global trade.” As part of the opening of opportunities for trade, the customs services of Uzbekistan can contribute to its effective development, as well as contribute to the creation of a favorable business environment.

The parties noted the positive dynamics of the interaction of Uzbekistan with the WCO. Now, in this international organization, as part of a career development program, a representative of the State Customs Committee of Uzbekistan is undergoing an internship. It is expected that in the future this practice of interaction will be further developed.

One of the practical results of the negotiations was the opportunity for the Uzbek side to participate in the World Trade Assistance Program of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland, designed for 2018-2022.