Effective and efficient customs administration at the national level is facilitated by the WCO’s network of international partnerships that are frequently mirrored at the respective regional or national level.

The World Customs Organization (WCO) therefore aids the national economic wealth and social protection of its Members by promoting an honest, transparent and largely predictable Customs environment. This helps international trade, transport and travel to flourish but also provides the moral basis for effective action to be taken against illegal activity which seeks to operate across customs borders and frontiers.

The WCO is an independent intergovernmental body whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of customs administrations. It is the competent global intergovernmental organization in customs matters.

To fulfill this mission, the WCO:

• Establishes, maintains, supports and promotes international instruments for the harmonization and uniform application of simplified and effective customs systems and procedures governing the movement of commodities, people and conveyances across customs frontiers
• Reinforces members’ efforts to secure compliance with their legislation, by endeavoring to maximize the level of effectiveness of Members’ co-operation with each other and with international organizations agencies in order to combat customs and other transnational offences
• Assists members in their efforts to meet the challenges of the modern business environment and adapt to changing circumstances, by promoting communication and co-operation among members and with other international organizations, and by fostering integrity, human resource development, transparency, improvements in the management and working methods of customs administrations and the sharing of best practices

Source: This is an excerpt from http://www.wcoomd.org/ie/En/AboutUs/WcoBrochure_p2.html, http://www.wcoomd.org/ie/En/AboutUs/WcoBrochure_p3.html