Dear Colleagues,

Taking over the baton of Vice-chair from India Customs, I would like to extend my official greetings as the WCO Vice-chair of Asia Pacific region for the period of 2020-2022.

Embracing WCO’s most extensive and diverse region, fostering mutual trust and understanding are required to forge sense of unity toward a common goal. To reach the goal, enhancing the communication and connectivity among the members, border management agencies, international and regional organizations as well as encouraging members to actively express their ideas to be presented at regional and global forum, Vice-chair will endeavour to accommodate and ensure members engagement in all decision-making process to reach regional consensus as our priorities.

Further, two-way communication with private sectors, international organization and other stakeholders is also significant to establish effective coordination. Harnessing the advancement of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a key driver to keep us connected amid the limitations of physical contact.

With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting negatively on global trade, Customs Administration is in the urge to facilitate the movement of goods, not only relief goods, but also goods in general, to help minimize the overall impact of the pandemic on our economies and societies. In line with the Regional Strategic Plan 2020-2022, Vice-chair will encourage members to implement WCO tools and instruments, agreements and convention, and appropriate risks management particularly related to trade security and facilitation as well as international supply chain. Vice-chair would also like to increase the active participation of members on sharing their experiences regarding the customs procedures implemented during the pandemic.

To enhance members capacity, we commit to strengthen cooperation among members and regional bodies to arrange effective capacity building programs and deliver technical assistance to the members in need. Acknowledging its potential to regional advancement, special focus will be placed on capacity building of the Customs Administration of Small Island Economies.

Further focus that Vice-chair would like to take forward is cooperation between Customs and Tax administrations. The cooperation has proven to be beneficial for both administrations, especially in promoting compliance as well as revenue collection, in terms of joint-audit or fighting trade-based money laundering and associated illicit financial flows.

Working closely together and maintaining good collaboration will guarantee the success of our region. By taking the role as Vice-chair, Indonesia Customs will put the best efforts in reflecting regional concerns. In the meantime, members are encouraged to actively participate in regional activities and contribute in determining regional policies. Also, the assistance from ROCB, RILO, and RTCs is highly required in comprehensively implementing the forthcoming plans and policies envisaged by WCO and Vice-chair.

Looking forward, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support and kind cooperation, with all members in the region to achieve our goals.

Together, we are echoing Asia Pacific.

Yours sincerely,

Heru Pambudi

Chairman of Regional Vice Chair of Asia Pacific Region

Director General of Customs and Excise,

Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia