India hosts 12th WCO conference

With the mission to augment efficiency of Custom Administrations throughout the world India is hosting the 12th World Customs Organisation’s Regional Heads of Customs Administrations Conference at New Delhi from April 14 to 17.

Hundred of delegates representing Asia-Pacific, Europe and Africa comprising Heads of Customs Administrations and Observers are attending the Conference.

P. C Jha will represent India in the discussion who is Chairman of the Central Board of Excise and Customs & the WCO, Vice Chair.

The WCO Conference serves as a platform to all the members to recognise the vital areas that necessitate special attention, to develop shared understanding on issues related to customs and to discuss the possibility of institutionalising mechanisms for the overall benefit of the region.

Earlier in 2006, India took the charge from China as the WCO Vice Chair of the Asia Pacific Region for a period of two years and has continued the excellent work done by the previous Vice Chairs. The Asia Pacific Region is known for enhanced levels of cooperation and coordination which make it one of the more vibrant and proactive regions of the WCO.

The Conference of Heads of Administrations of Customs of Asia Pacific Region will consider the work done in critical areas for the Customs of the region and will adopt a new 3-year Regional Strategic Plan for implementing the various programmes under key focus areas. WCO Asia Pacific is an organisation of 32 Member countries including Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Bhutan, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rep. of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Timor Leste, Thailand, Vietnam, Kingdom of Tonga, and Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

The WCO is the only intergovernmental organisation exclusively focused on Customs matters, established in 1952 as Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) to work on the usefulness of Custom administration. Gradually it becomes the voice of the Customs community. It has earned a distinction in establishing a global standards, the simplification and harmonisation of Customs procedures, trade supply chain security, the facilitation of international trade, the enhancement of Customs enforcement and compliance activities, anti-counterfeiting and piracy initiatives, public-private partnerships, integrity promotion, and sustainable global Customs capacity building programmes.

It is represented by 172 Customs administrations across the globe that collectively processes approximately 98% of world trade. Geographically, the members have been divided into following six regions, each of whom elect a Vice Chair to head the region for a period of 2 years.

• East and Southern Africa
• Europe
• Far East, South and South East Asia, Australasia and the Pacific Islands
• North of Africa, Near and Middle East
• South America, North America, Central America and the Caribbean
• West and Central Africa

India entered World Customs Organisation (WCO) in 1971 and since its inception it has participated actively in developments in the fields of Classification, Valuation, Customs procedures and enforcement.

In this world when global crime, terrorism and trade irregularities have been rising, WCO has earned a special place in protecting society, environment, cultural heritage and smooth facilitation of trade across the world.