The Asia-Pacific region, a critical engine of global economic growth, faces the ongoing challenge of maintaining equilibrium between trade security and facilitation. The effectiveness of customs cooperation in this region directly impacts the stability and prosperity of global supply chains. Against this backdrop, the 32nd World Customs Organization (WCO) Asia-Pacific Regional Contact Points Meeting, hosted by the Australian Border Force, convened successfully from November 14 to 18, 2022.
The meeting brought together representatives from 20 member administrations across the region, alongside experts from the WCO Secretariat, the Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB A/P), and the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO A/P). Participants explored new pathways for regional collaboration and established foundational directions for future customs operations.
Meeting Objectives and Context
Central to the gathering was the goal of fostering deeper dialogue among Asia-Pacific members on shared priorities, facilitating experience exchange, and strengthening cooperative frameworks to address regional challenges. The event served as both a critical platform for knowledge sharing and a reference point for WCO's strategic planning in the region.
Opening Remarks: A Call for Innovation and Collaboration
Michael Outram, Comptroller-General of the Australian Border Force and WCO Asia-Pacific Vice-Chair, opened proceedings by emphasizing the pivotal role of regional customs administrations in formulating strategic responses to shared challenges. His remarks established a pragmatic tone for the discussions that followed.
Akiko Kojima, WCO Regional Development Manager for Asia-Pacific, reinforced the importance of interconnected regional systems. She identified the area as both a driver of global economic expansion and a laboratory for customs innovation, urging members to advance collective priorities through enhanced cooperation. Kojima reiterated WCO's commitment to capacity-building initiatives and data-driven customs modernization across the region.
WCO Policy Updates and Strategic Initiatives
The Secretariat presented key updates on several fronts:
- WCO Strategic Plan 2022-2025: A comprehensive framework addressing trade facilitation, security, compliance, and organizational development to combat transnational crime and terrorism.
- Data Strategy: Focused on enhancing risk management and decision-making through improved data collection, analysis, and sharing protocols.
- Green Customs Initiative: A program targeting environmental sustainability through strengthened oversight of ecologically sensitive commodities and suppression of illegal wildlife trafficking.
- Operation STOP/STOP II: Cross-border enforcement actions against counterfeit goods and intellectual property violations.
- Technological Integration: Emphasis on advanced analytics and geospatial intelligence applications for modernized customs operations.
Regional Strategic Coordination
The Vice-Chair's office outlined its Regional Strategic Plan 2022-2024, detailing mechanisms for enhanced collaboration including:
- Private Sector Engagement Group activities
- Asia-Pacific Customs Newsletter publications
- Office rebranding initiatives
Parallel reports from RILO A/P and ROCB A/P highlighted operational achievements in intelligence sharing and capacity development, including:
- 33rd National Contact Points Meeting preparations
- Annual work program implementations
- Training management systems
- Regional needs assessments
Member Dialogues and Collaborative Exercises
Delegates engaged in substantive exchanges on aligning national implementations with regional strategies, particularly regarding:
- Supply chain integrity safeguards
- Risk mitigation protocols
- Operational coordination frameworks
A tabletop exercise on supply chain vulnerabilities yielded consensus on the necessity for expanded cooperation between national administrations and regional bodies, particularly given current global economic uncertainties.
Conclusion
The 32nd Regional Contact Points Meeting established a robust foundation for addressing shared challenges through coordinated action. Its outcomes promise to significantly influence both regional customs practices and broader global trade governance frameworks in the coming years.