OREANDA-NEWS. November 2, 2012. The Customs Service’2012 International Exhibition was opened on 23 October at Expocentre Fairgrounds.

For the first time, the Customs Service Exhibition was held as an official sectoral trade fair of the Customs Union. The organizer of the event was the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation, with FGUP ROSTECK acting as a coordinator and RusCustomsInform ZAO as a sponsor of the exhibition.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Igor Shuvalov, First Deputy Prime Minster of the Russian Federation, said: ‘The exhibition meets the highest international standards in terms of organization. It brings together customs specialists as well as their customers’. The exhibition enjoys continuous support from the Government of the Russian Federation. Mr Shuvalov noted that the government works together with the customs agencies to make customs procedures more streamlined and transparent for business people; and another challenge is to combat piracy. Closing his speech he urged everyone to collaborate to enhance the status of customs service within the structure of government authorities.

Customs Service‘2012 is very instrumental in this work. This year the show has expanded, with more exhibitors taking part in it, and built up its international reputation. Exhibitors included 115 companies and 21 foreign delegations representing their national customs authorities.

The Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation and the World Customs Organization (WCO) held an International Forum as part of the Customs Service’2012 exhibition. The opening ceremony of the event was attended by Mr Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of WCO. He pointed out that the event is an ideal platform to exchange information, opinions and best practices for the customs service.

The exhibitors and visitors of Customs Service’2012 were welcomed by Andrei Belyaninov, Head of the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation. The opening ceremony of the exhibition was attended by Grigory Rapota, State Secretary of the Union State of Russia and Belarus; Vladimir Goshin, Minister for Customs Cooperation of the Eurasian Economic Commission; Sergei Katyrin, President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and other distinguished guests.