5 - 8 June, 2023, Jakarta, Indonesia

The WCO Sub-regional Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Workshop for the Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 5 to 8 June 2023 sponsored by the Customs Cooperation Fund China (CCF-China). From ROCB A/P, Ms. Zhengqing Ye, the Program Manager and Operation Manager of the CCF-China participated this workshop.

During the workshop, Ms. Ye introduced ROCB A/P’s outline and its activity including the annual workshop plan and encouraged the members to share their capacity building needs via Annual Needs Survey conducted by our office. She reaffirmed that the ROCB A/P will continuously dedicate itself to organizing the WCO WS as much as possible to meet regional members’ technical needs. She also supports this workshop as a facilitator.

The workshop aimed to enhance the knowledge and skills of Customs officials in implementing AEO programmes and fostering Customs-Business partnerships. Participants from all ASEAN Member States, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as the AEO experts from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) participated in the workshop to share their experience in AEO operation.

The workshop agenda included sessions that covered essential aspects of AEO programmes, such as an overview of the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards, the WCO's AEO concept and its background, overview, and linkages with the World Trade Organization's Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).

Sessions throughout the workshop focused on case studies, lessons learned, and best practices related to AEO programme implementation and the associated benefits. Participants shared their experiences and insights during these sessions, covering topics such as AEO validation and authorization, mutual recognition of AEO programmes, coordinated border management, AEO compliance and risk management, post-certification monitoring, and stakeholder engagement strategies.

The workshop also fostered networking and knowledge sharing among Customs officials from different ASEAN countries, promoting regional cooperation and harmonization of Customs procedures. Participants also engaged in meaningful discussions highlighting the challenges associated with involving Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the AEO programme, recognizing the significant role SMEs play in regional trade and the need to increase level of their participation in the programme.

For more information, please contact rocb@rocbap.org