Successful AEO Diagnostic mission to Côte d'Ivoire

From 2 to 6 September 2024, Ivorian Customs hosted a Diagnostic Workshop on the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programme in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, supported by the World Customs Organisation (WCO). The Workshop, funded by the German Cooperation Agency (GIZ), was co-facilitated by WCO-accredited experts from French Customs and Moroccan Customs, who shared their extensive knowledge of AEO principles and practices.

The objective of this mission was to establish an inventory of the national system that came into force in 2019, but was suspended indefinitely in the summer of 2021. The goal was to formulate, if necessary, recommendations with a view to "revitalizing" this AEO programme. The experts focused on examining the compliance of the Ivorian programme with the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards, in particular Annex IV (AEO conditions, requirements and benefits), while taking into account the good practices identified in the European and Moroccan AEO programmes. After a thorough review of the regulations governing the AEO programme, interviews were held with various Customs officials and managers of companies that had obtained AEO approval. A meeting was also held with representatives from the private sector.

At the end of this mission, and pending a detailed report that will be submitted shortly to Ivorian Customs, a series of recommendations were formulated for the purpose of implementing an AEO programme that is more attractive to operators and closer to the practice generally observed among programmes that comply with the provisions of the SAFE Framework of Standards. The Ivorian Customs Administration showed keen interest in these recommendations, which will further support the development of an action plan that could be implemented as early as 2025.