8th June 2023, Pattaya, Thailand

Upon the invitation of the ASEAN Secretariat, Mr. Norikazu Kuramoto, the Head of the ROCB A/P, actively participated in the 12th ASEAN – World Customs Organization (WCO) Consultation at the 32nd Meeting of the ASEAN Directors-General of Customs. The meeting, held on 8 June 2023 in Pattaya, Thailand, adopted a hybrid model, blending in-person attendance with virtual participation. Mr. Louis Chan, Program Manager of the ROCB A/P, engaged in the consultation remotely.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, the Secretary-General of the WCO, expressed his appreciation for the beautiful beach in Pattaya and warmly invited all ASEAN DGs to the WCO Council Session, scheduled to be held in Brussels two weeks later. He then emphasized the significant current themes of the WCO, including technology innovation, data strategy including data harmonization and sharing, and a new initiative encouraging the younger generation to harness the power of technology and knowledge sharing. Furthermore, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya outlined initiatives aimed at assisting member administrations in adapting to technological transformation. He emphasized additional key themes such as disruptive technology, Green Customs, Plastic Waste Management, and human resource management. Dr. Kunio Mikuriya extended his gratitude to ASEAN Members for their recent advancements and conveyed his openness to discuss other areas of concern and priorities from members.

 During the consultation, Mr. Norikazu Kuramoto briefed the ASEAN Members on the ROCB A/P's capacity-building activities, which included collaborations with Regional Entities in the AP region, and shared plans for upcoming workshops. He also highlighted a regional workshop on training management, initiated by ROCB A/P. This workshop provided a platform for regional members to exchange their experiences and best practices on human resource and training management, and to discuss ways to continuously improve the training capacity of Members in the Asia Pacific region. In his closing remarks, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya expressed his appreciation to ASEAN countries for their sustained support of the WCO. He encouraged more active engagement with the WCO and invited members to send young personnel to the WCO Headquarters as attachés, who would then contribute to improvements within their Customs administration.

The consultation was chaired by Mrs. Kitjaluck Srinuchsart, Deputy Director-General of the Thai Customs Department. The meeting served as a dynamic platform for exchanging views on international and emerging Customs issues.

The comprehensive discussions and exchange of insights during the 12th ASEAN-WCO Consultation are anticipated to offer a roadmap for future cooperation and a thorough understanding of contemporary customs challenges. The event underscored the potential of combined efforts in addressing these challenges and enhancing customs operations within the region.