Korea Customs Service: "Korean Customs Administration Transplanted to Africa... Creating a Business-Friendly Environment for Domestic Companies"

The Korea Customs Service (KCS) is set to support the modernization of customs administration in the African region. The purpose of this support is to transplant the Korean-style customs administration to partner countries, facilitating trade and creating a trade environment favorable to domestic companies.

Koh Kwang-hyo, Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service (right), is taking a commemorative photo after signing a memorandum of understanding on mutual cooperation to promote customs reform and modernization with the Vice President of the African Development Bank online on the 3rd. Photo by Korea Customs Service

On the 4th, the KCS announced that Commissioner Ko Gwang-hyo signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Solomon Quaynor, Vice President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), to mutually cooperate in promoting customs reform and modernization in the African region.

The MOU was signed online the previous day. An MOU is a type of diplomatic note exchanged between two parties to formally document orally conveyed opinions in written form.

Following the signing of the MOU, the two organizations plan to strengthen cooperation by establishing Korean-style customs systems such as the electronic customs clearance system (UNI-PASS) and the one-stop origin management system (OOMS) in AfDB member countries within the region, as well as supporting the enhancement of customs administrative capabilities to facilitate trade in Africa.

AfDB is a development bank established in 1964 with the purpose of economic and social development in Africa. As of last year, it has 54 member countries from the African region and 27 member countries from outside Africa. Korea joined AfDB in 1982.

Commissioner Ko Gwang-hyo stated, “With the signing of the MOU with AfDB, we expect to strengthen the cooperative framework with Africa and expand the areas of cooperation. The Korea Customs Service will strive to promote Korean customs administration locally in Africa to facilitate trade across the African continent and create an export environment favorable to Korean companies.”