Welcome to WCO Asia/ Pacific Website

The World Customs Organization (WCO) is an independent, intergovernmental, world-wide body competent in Customs matters and has a mission to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations.With a growing world wide membership the WCO has divided its membership into six regions.  Each of the six regions is represented by a regionally elected Vice-Chairperson to the WCO Council. This regional structure was established to provide practical assistance in order to:

• Ensure the permanent presence of the WCO in each region of the world; 
• Ensure that the WCO is kept informed of regional interests; 
• Promote greater involvement of members in WCO activities; 
• Encourage non-members to join the WCO; 
• Establish close cooperation with regional organisations working in the Customs field; and
• Promote cooperation between members in each region.

There are currently 33 WCO members in the Asia/Pacific Region:

 In addition to attending the annual WCO Council Session in Brussels, Belgium, the WCO members from the Asia/Pacific Region meet annually to develop regional positions on WCO issues and decide on the regional representation to the WCO. 

Role of Vice-Chair

The Region is represented by a Regional Vice-Chair. The role of the Regional Vice-Chair is to:

• Identify regional requirements in respect of WCO activities;
• Identify potential facilities and support for such facilities;
• Assist in making arrangements for seminars, training sessions etc.;
• Obtaining the views of Members in the region for presentation at Policy Commission meetings;
• As appropriate, represent the WCO at meetings of international bodies in the region; and 
• Arrange periodic regional meetings to foster WCO activities and hold discussions on subjects of common interest to members in the region.

The Far East, South and South East Asia, Australasia and the Pacific Islands Region of the World Customs Organization is composed of the following members:

Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Hong Kong China, India, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Macao China, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Kingdom of Tonga, Vanuatu and Vietnam.

The current Regional Vice-Chair is Australia.

The current regional representatives at Policy Commission meetings are India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and China.

The Region is represented at WCO Finance Committee meetings by four elected regional members. The current regional members of the Finance Committee are China, India, Japan & Korea.

The Regional representatives at WCO Audit Committee are Bangladesh and Indonesia.

The delegates of all regional members are able to attend Customs WCO Council Sessions.

Regional Meetings

Meeting of Regional Contact Points

The nominated contacts for each administration in the region meet at least once a year (usually in October) to discuss and exchange opinions on matters of common interest.

Regional Conference of Heads of Administrations

The Regional Conference is hosted by the Regional Vice-Chairman (usually biennially). It is attended by the Directors-General of regional customs administrations and sets the region's direction for the following two years.

List of recent Vice-Chairs for the WCO Asia/Pacific Region

List of the venues for recent RCP meetings

List of the venues for recent RHCA conferences