22-24 June 2023, Brussels, WCO

The 141st/142nd Council Sessions of the World Customs Organization (WCO) were held at WCO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium from 22 to 24 June 2023. Directors General of Customs representing the WCO Members participated. Mr. Norikazu Kuramoto, the Head of ROCB A/P attended as observers.

This Council Sessions reviewed the work carried out by the WCO throughout the year. The discussions covered its deliberations on Capacity Building, Rules of Origin, Valuation, Nomenclature and Classification, Compliance, and Trade Facilitation as well as on administrative matters.

The Council took note of the progress made in implementing the WCO Strategic Plan 2022-2025, particularly in the key focus areas of Technology and Innovation, Green Customs and Governance and Accountability. Regarding Technology and Innovation, the Council acknowledged the efforts of the Data and Statistics Working Group in implementing the WCO Data Strategy and took note of the establishment of a Data Scholarship for capacity building.

During the sessions, Mr. Ian Saunders from the United States is elected as the new WCO Secretary General for a five-year term as of 1 January 2024. They also elected Mr. Edward Kieswetter, Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service, as the Chairperson of the WCO Council.

The Council delegates also witnessed the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) including Asia Pacific Members, namely MoU on the recognition of Regional Dog Training Center in Australia, Hong Kong China and Indonesia, and MoU on the recognition of the Regional Customs Laboratory’s Professionals Programme in India.

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