Skopje, 10 July 2024 (MIA) - Customs Administration Director Boban Nikolovski met Wednesday with representative from the United Kingdom's HM Revenue and Customs, Simon Woodcock.

"Fighting crime and corruption, accelerating trade, and strengthening the capacities of the Customs Administration will be in the focus of the bilateral cooperation with the United Kingdom," the Customs Administration said in a press release.

Nikolovski and Woodcock agreed to intensify the cooperation between the Customs Administration and the UK's HM Revenue and Customs in order to achieve the main priorities of the British and Macedonian Governments.

"Our top priorities are the country's economic transformation and suppression of crime and corruption. In order to achieve these goals, the focus on future cooperation between the Customs Administration and the UK's HM Revenue and Customs is of great significance," Nikolovski stressed.

Interlocutors also discussed the possibility of the United Kingdom to provide advisory and investment support for major projects for improving the Customs Administration, as well as support for training of customs officers, with the help of the HM Revenue and Customs.

The meeting highlighted the opportunity for securing support by joining the video surveillance and license plate recognition system with the help of the new computerized transit system, and customs declaration system in order to accelerate transport and trade, and fighting crime. These activities will complement the Trade and Transport Facilitation Project for Western Balkans and World Bank.

Intensifying bilateral cooperation with focus on accelerating economic growth and fighting crime and corruption will improve the conditions for doing business and will attract new investments from the United Kingdom. ssh/nn/

Photo: Customs Administration