18 and 19 July 2019, Nuku'alofa, Tonga,

Mr. Norikazu Kuramoto, Head of the ROCB A/P, accompanied Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, WCO Secretary General, for his visit to Nuku'alofa, Tonga, on 18 and 19 July 2019 for a policy dialogue with the Ministry of Revenue and Customs of Tonga.  The WCO delegation was warmly welcomed by Minister of Revenue and Customs, Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Kelemete Vahe, as well as senior management officials at the Ministry of Revenue and Customs of Tonga Headquarters.

They discussed, among other things, the challenges and opportunities that may arise following Tonga’s accession to the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Pacific States as well as the sharing of information between countries of the Pacific region to counter drug trafficking.

The WCO delegation also visited the facilities of the new Customs House which provide for the use of modern information technology and intelligence-based risk management and enable Customs to build a business-friendly environment. Mr. Vahe also stressed the importance given to improving integrity in Customs and the need to develop a compliance programme for businesses.

The Secretary General then attended a welcome ceremony organized by Tonga Customs, with Deputy CEO and Head of Customs, Mr Michael Cokanasiga, acting as master of ceremonies. The event was extensively covered by national media.

For more information, please write to us at rocb@rocbap.org.