12 November 2020, Online Meeting Hosted by Vice Chair

The WCO A/P Joint Session of 21^st Regional Heads of Customs Administrative Conference (RHCA) and 30^th Regional Contact Points (RCP) Meeting were held online on 12 November 2020 organized by the Customs and Excise of the Republic of Indonesia as Vice Chair. More than 60 Delegates from 25 A/P regional Member administrations and Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of WCO, the RILO A/P and the ROCB A/P, as permanent observers, attended the Meetings and discussed important issues for A/P region such as the endorsement of Regional entities, measures in response to COVID-19 pandemic, the progress with implementation of the WCO A/P Regional Strategic Plan (RSP) 2018-2020, and the establishment of Regional Private Sector Group Asia/Pacific. During the Meetings, Mr. Norikazu Kuramoto, Head of the ROCB A/P, updated Members on the ROCB A/P’s capacity building activities including the ROCB A/P’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the outcomes of the Regional Training Center Heads Meeting which was held online in October 2020 and organized by the ROCB A/P. Mr. Kuramoto also made reports on the implementation of the Focus Area 3 (Capacity Building) of the A/P RSP 2018-2020. Several delegates expressed their appreciation for the ROCB A/P’s contribution to the A/P region and support for its activities.

RHCA endorsed the proposals of Indonesia and Iran on hosting the WCO Regional Training Center (RTC), the proposals of India and Indonesia on hosting the WCO Regional Customs Laboratory (RCL), the proposals of Korea on hosting the WCO Regional Dog Training Center (RDTC). Members have warmly welcomed new RTCs, RCLs and RDTC. RCP shared experience and practices to address the challenges under the COVID-19 pandemic.

The delegates called for continued strengthening cooperation and information sharing among the Member administrations, the WCO, ROCB A/P and RILO A/P, for continued solidarity even amid COVID-19.

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