5th June 2024, Phu Quoc, Vietnam

Upon the invitation of the ASEAN Secretariat, Mr. Norikazu Kuramoto, the Head of the ROCB A/P accompanied with Secretary General of the WCO, actively participated in the 13th ASEAN – World Customs Organization (WCO) Consultation at the 33rd Meeting of the ASEAN Directors-General of Customs held on 5th June 2024 in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, Co-chaired by ASEAN representatives from Thai Customs and Vietnam Customs.

During the consultation, Mr. Kuramoto briefed on the capacity building activities for ASEAN members. First of all, he shared workshop achievements in this FY especially focused on ASEAN members, namely Regional, Sub-regional and National workshops which WCO provided. Then, he shared the WCO Human Resource Development Programme and its participation situation of ASEAN members in recent 3 years with encouragement of continued interested in sending applications to these programmes. He also reported the results of supplemental needs survey for technical assistance for ASEAN which conducted by the ROCB A/P with applications for engagement and support on this year’s one. The number of Accredited Customs Experts (ACE) in ASEAN members was shared with ASEAN DGs while he emphasized how importance to collaborate between regional expertise and modernization are and asked to send their exerts to WCO workshop when WCO requested. Last but not least, Head informed that ROCB A/P will mark 20th anniversary in September 2024 since established in Bangkok Thailand. Head expressed his appreciation for ASEAN members for long-standing support for ROCB A/P and requested continued engagement for future activity as well.

In the opening session, Secretary General Iran Saunders expressed his warm gratitude to the ASEAN members for their continued support to the WCO and acknowledged the history of robust engagement between the two organizations. He appreciated the active participation of ASEAN members in the WCO’s work, noting that sharing their real-world experience helps direct the organization’s activities.

For more information, please contact rocb@rocbap.org