Algeria-Tunisia.. A meeting of the joint committee to evaluate the level of cooperation between the customs services of the two countries – Algerian Dialogue

A meeting of the Algerian-Tunisian Joint Committee for Customs Cooperation was held today, Tuesday, in Algiers, headed by the Director General of Algerian Customs, Major General Abdelhafid Bakhouch, and his Tunisian counterpart, Zuhair Mejri, in implementation of the agreement related to the exchange of administrative assistance between the two countries in the customs field.

This meeting, which aims to evaluate the level of cooperation between the customs agencies of the two countries and discuss ways to ensure the smooth border movement of goods and travelers between them, took place at the headquarters of the General Directorate of Algerian Customs, in the presence of the Tunisian delegation, the central frameworks of the General Directorate of Algerian Customs, the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the national community abroad. As well as the Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia to Algeria, Ramadan Al-Fayed.

During this meeting, which also addresses coordination mechanisms in areas of common interest, especially those related to combating fraud and smuggling and exchanging information, as well as the field of training and exchanging experiences, Major General Bakhoush stressed “the necessity of intensifying customs cooperation between the two countries to strengthen the foundations of the bilateral customs unit and build an existing administration.” “To coordinate and exchange experiences and best practices, while seeking to overcome and solve all difficulties and obstacles, especially those related to providing appropriate conditions for regulating the movement of passengers, and combating fraud, smuggling, and all other forms of cross-border crimes.”

This cooperation also takes place through “studying and discussing the most effective ways to ensure the smooth flow of commercial exchanges at the level of offices and border posts, and benefiting from the facilities granted to lift goods in light of what is guaranteed by the laws of the two countries, including the differential trade agreement concluded between the two parties,” the Director General adds.

Accordingly, Major General Bakhoush stressed the keenness of the two countries to “unite efforts to mutually benefit from the expertise and capabilities of the two agencies, and to enhance cooperation in the field of training and capacity building, especially by intensifying training courses and scientific visits,” stressing “the necessity of coordination in the field of customs information and information exchange, which is “This ensures greater effectiveness at the operational level.”

Regarding the meeting of the joint committee, held in implementation of the provisions of the Mutual Administrative Cooperation Agreement concluded in Tunisia on January 9, 1981, the Director General of Customs considered that it comes as “an affirmation of the depth of the fraternal and historical ties that unite the two countries, and the strong will to continue discussing ways of effective coordination and strengthening the bonds of joint cooperation.”

According to him, the committee’s agenda will address various topics of common interest between the two bodies. It will also constitute an opportunity to evaluate the agreement that frames the field of cooperation and information exchange, while studying the possibility of updating it to keep pace with developments at the international level and the compatibility of its provisions with the standards of the World Customs Organization.

For his part, the Director General of Tunisian Customs considered this meeting “an important opportunity to strengthen the cooperation program and exchange bilateral experiences, as well as to open horizons of cooperation in the customs fields on the one hand, and enhance trade exchanges on the other hand,” appreciating the “positive results” reached by previous committee meetings. , especially the one held in Tunisia in 2022 and the twinning committee between the National Customs School in Tunisia and the Higher School of Customs in Oran, as well as the Committee for Combating Land Smuggling and Commercial Fraud.

It is worth noting that the work of the Algerian-Tunisian Joint Committee for Customs Cooperation will conclude this Wednesday with the signing of the minutes of a bilateral meeting, according to the General Directorate of Customs.