Twenty-four government officials from around the world participated in the WTO’s three-week Advanced Course on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures, which concluded on 15 November. The course was organized by the Agriculture and Commodities Division and the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation, with the support of the Standards and Trade Development Facility. During …
Article in the Swedish Financial Times (DI) about how companies can prepare for Brexit. It is challenging jut possible for all companies to prepare for Brexit. In fact we know to a large degree already how to do this. All companies should prepare properly and donso since Customs compliance is a strategic topic …
It was great meeting a lot of friends in Brazil. Here with Ernani Checcucci from the World Bank, former Director WCO and DG Brazil Customs (and my deputy in WCO), John Mein, Executive Secretary of the organizer Procomex also Chairperson of the WCO Private Sector Consultative Group and Enrique Canon former DG Uruguay Customs …
This week South America took a historic leap forward for border processing, security trade facilitation when the São Paulo Declaration was signed to implement an integrated regional Authorized Economic operator (AEO) programme for all border agencies in nine countries, a true coordinated border management initiative. A landmark development for intra-American and international trade with …
Continue reading “AEO Brazil – A Success Story: Now on the way towards new landmark goals”
On Friday Sweden qualified for the UEFA EuroCup 2020 by beating Romania away 2-0. We played in a qualification group with Spain, Romania, Norway, Malta and Farao Islands. Sweden has only lost one gane, Spain away in the group games. Having played the quarterfinals in the last World Cup we have great expectations on …
This year AEO Brazil celebrates five years. We started to deisgn and develop the progrMmes in 2014. It was opened in 2015. New versions were released 2016-2018. On Thursday I was invited by TTMS to give a speech about AEO Brazil from an international perspective with many of the Brazilian AEO companies present.
Another great visit to the worst airport in the world this morning, Charles de Gaulle Airport. 1h10min transfer. 3 security controls, 2 passport controls, 2 bus rides, endless walking, rude ground staff & arrogant security people. Worst border processing around. How is it even possible to be this bad? And in a developed country, …
Continue reading “How can they be so bad at Charles De Gaulle Airport?”
Tuesday evening I delivered a MasterClass on Compliance at the TCO Certfication Programme in São Paulo. TCO is a qulificstion programme for students aiming to become certified Trade Compliance Officers. This was the second time I have opened this programme with an interactive MasterClass workshop on Customs and Borders. It is great to meet …
On Tuesday I participated and gave a speech about international experiences and advice on the way forward at the Procomex Integrated AEO Work Shop in São Paulo. Multiple agencies from nine countries participated in the event. South America is leading the developments of AEO and Trusted Traders right now.
Hello Monday. A new day, a new week. The future is ahead of us. I like Mondays. Started early with my alarm on 3.30am. Time is too short to sleep long hours. In the car by 04.15am. At the airport 05.00am. Managed to get a flat tire passing the bridge. Just because. I was …
Chinese consumers collectively spent 158.31 billion yuan (US$22.63 billion) in the first nine hours of Alibaba’s Singles’ Day shopping extravaganza, scooping up everything from consumer electronics to luxury items and even cars. The figure is two thirds of last year’s final tally of US$30.8 billion. Alibaba’s Singles’ Day shopping festival, which falls on November …
Continue reading “Chinese consumers spend US$22 billion in first 9 hours of Alibaba’s Singles’ Day”
Greta Thunberg, teen climate activist, is getting a huge mural in downtown San Francisco. The Bay Area has many murals, with images of everyone from Robin Williams to Nipsey Hussle gracing its buildings. Now, there’s a new name to add to that list: Greta Thunberg. A mural of the Swedish teenage climate activist, whose …
30 years ago today the Berlin Wall came down marking the end of the European divide. I remember in my youth how we visited East Berlin and drove through Easy Germany going to tournaments with my club. This was a great moment in the history of mankind, that in many ways became the symbol …
Paul Bono Hewson is one of my few heroes in life. I saw my first U2 concert before the band had even released their first record. I was in Paris playing a tournament with my team and last night on the trip I and some school/team mates went to a club on the street …
It is no secret for people reading this blog that I am a fan of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the best player of Sweden ever – and a world class player the last 15 years. There are very few players with the careers of Zlatan, having won 34 titles in top clubs from five countries. Two …
Continue reading “Sorry Zlatan, in Malmö somebody else has been more important than you”
Yesterday the European Union’s top Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier talked about the Brexit at a public event. Once Britain leaves the EU, it still has to negotiate on its future trading relationship with the bloc. The EU-UK negotiation on future trade will be “difficult and demanding” says Barnier because time is “extremely short”, assuming …
Continue reading “Barnier: The is still a risk for a Brexit cliff edge”
Scientisis have stated that, the world’s people face “untold suffering due to the climate crisis” unless there are major transformations to global society, according to a stark warning from more than 11,000 scientists. “We declare clearly and unequivocally that planet Earth is facing a climate emergency,” it states. “To secure a sustainable future, we …
Continue reading “11,000 scientists warn about climate crises consequences”
Today I am in Oslo, Norway, for Brexit work, I had several good meetings this morning. In the afternoon I delivered a speech to Norwegian businesses at the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise. It is always a pleasure to visit our colleagues and friends on the other side of the border, our closest Scandinavian brothers …
The World Bank has presented its Doing Business 2020 report which reviews 190 economies across 12 business regulatory areas “to assess the business environment in each economy”. The WB Doning Business Review is an important instrument to measure progress in a number of different fields that impacts business in a country, also Customs and …
Continue reading “The World Bank Doing Business Review 2020”
Today I did a visit to my former home town of Brussels for meetings. Good meetings all fay and a Great lunch with one of my best friends in the Customs world.
You must be logged in to post a comment.