News Release

National 2009

Canada, Haiti and the World Customs Organization sign a memorandum of cooperation on building customs capacity

Ottawa, Ontario, July 10, 2009 —The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that Stephen Rigby, President of the CBSA, Jean Jacques Valentin, Director General of the Administration générale des douanes of Haiti, and Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), signed a memorandum of cooperation on capacity building.

 “Sharing expertise with our international partners to facilitate the smooth flow of legitimate trade and travel will support the sustainable development of the customs system in Haiti and improve its border management,” said President Rigby.

The three organizations have reached a common understanding on technical cooperation in support of modernizing and reforming customs processes. The agreement acknowledges the importance of the WCO in implementing global customs standards and ensuring uniformity in customs administrations around the world.

“I am pleased that the customs administrations of Canada and Haiti and the WCO have signed this agreement as it represents a remarkable contribution to customs modernization and to the socio-economic development of Haiti,” said WCO Secretary General Mikuriya.

“The signing of this memorandum of cooperation signals a new departure for the customs system in Haiti. Haiti, like all customs administrations, must adapt to the demands of the 21st century: furthering economic development and promoting investment while ensuring efficient and effective control measures. I am pleased that with the cooperation of Canada, the Administration générale des douanes of Haiti can modernize its structures, renew its practices and reinforce its capacity. I would like to thank the CBSA for supporting customs modernization in Haiti,” said Mr. Valentin. 

The CBSA has been selected as the executing agency for the customs component of the Canadian International Development Agency's $18-million revenue generation project. This will contribute to income tax and customs modernization in Haiti. The value of the CBSA's area of responsibility is $5.4 million.

This agreement also supports the important role Canada is playing in international efforts to re-establish security and stability in Haiti and to assist in longer-term reform and reconstruction efforts. 

For media information:

Media Relations
Canada Border Services Agency
613-957-6500