2-4 October 2019, Port Vila, Vanuatu,

Mr. Norikazu Kuramoto, Head of the ROCB A/P, accompanied Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, WCO Secretary General, for his visit to Port Vila, Vanuatu, on 2 to 4 October 2019 for a policy dialogue with the Customs and Inland Revenue of Vanuatu.  The WCO delegation was warmly welcomed by Mr. Harold Tarosa, Director of Customs and Inland Revenue.

They discussed, among other things, the Small Island Economies initiative and recent challenges they have faced for example, how to deal drug trafficking, cruise ship passengers, and HS2022 in the enhancing trade facilitation measures including conducting Time Release Study. The WCO delegation also visited the Single Window project facility being developed over the period 2018-2020, based on the Customs IT System.

During stay in Vanuatu, WCO delegation had an opportunity to visit Santo Island to observe the functioning of the value chain strategy through agricultural development for exports, the branding of products in such areas as kava, organic beef, coffee and noni, as well as various tourism resources. We confirmed further close cooperation between WCO, ROCB A/P and Vanuatu Customs for the vital contribution in improving the business environment in Vanuatu. 

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