Authorized Economic Operator Programs
In the Islamic Countries:
Enhancing Customs-Traders Partnership
65
signed 6-8 MRAs. Among OIC countries, Malaysia is leading in signing MRA contracts, they
have 3 MRAs. Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia have signed Agadir Agreement, which is an
MRA within the region. Turkey and Jordan has two separate MRAs. However, in the OIC region
the countries which has established an AEO program in the last few years have not involved in
an MRA yet, as expected. Tables 3.11 and 3.12 present concluded and negotiated MRAs.
Table 3.11. Concluded MRAs of OIC Countries
Date Countries
June 2008 Jordan-USA
June 2014 Korea-Turkey
April 2016 Agadir Agreement Member States: Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan,
Morocco
March 2016 Hong Kong, China and Malaysia
July 2017 Korea, UAE
October 2017 Korea, Malaysia
June 2014 Malaysia-Japan
Source: Authors’ compilation using WCO (2018) data.
Table 3.12. MRAs being negotiated of OIC Countries
Countries
Malaysia-Thailand
Malaysia-China
China-Kazakhstan
Iran-Russia
EAC (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda)-Korea
Kazakhstan-Turkey
Kazakhstan-Korea
Saudi Arabia-UAE
CEFTA (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and
Kosovo (United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo on behalf of Kosovo)).
Source: Authors’ compilation using WCO (2018) data.
In all the AEO programs in OIC region and best practices, importers are targeted as holders of
AEO status (Table 3.13). Except Oman, exporters are the second targeted group of companies
to be involved in the programs.
Transporters, warehouses and Customs brokers have been given the right to apply to AEO
programs in Canada, the EU and Japan. By covering the whole supply chain, all the transactions
of an AEO will be prioritized and secured utilizing all the benefits provided. Among the OIC