10 June 2021, online, Bangkok Thailand

At the invitation of the ASEAN Secretariat, Mr. Norikazu Kuramoto, Head of ROCB A/P attended the 10th ASEAN – World Customs Organization (WCO) Consultation at the 13th Meeting of the ASEAN Directors- General of Customs virtually held on 10 June 2021 in Bangkok, Thailand. Ms. Sherman YU, Program Manager of the ROCB A/P also attended.

The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Rey Leonardo B Guerrero, Commissioner of Philippines Customs and by Indonesia Customs, WCO Vice-Chair for the Asia/Pacific region, with the attendance of Mr. Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary General of the ASEAN Economic Community.

In the opening remarks, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, the Secretary General of WCO briefly explained the works done and way forward of WCO in times of the pandemic, particularly on the vaccination programme and its facilitation. Echoed with SG’s presentation, RDM of WCO presented the hot topics of WCO to the participants. This meeting provided a platform to exchange views on international and emerging customs issues. WCO also took the opportunity to explain the most current developments, priority programmes and the strategic directions.

During the meeting, important issues such as recovery in ASEAN countries after the opening up of border in post-pandemic, digitalization in trade, data exchange in Single Window adopted were highlighted in the discussion. Mr. Kuramoto introduced the capacity building activities of ROCB AP as well as the forthcoming plan to the participants.

For more information, please contact at rocb@rocbap.org.