The WCO Asia Pacific Vice-Chair, Mr. Heru Pambudi attended the 83rd Session of Policy Commission in a virtual format from Monday 7 to Wednesday 9 December 2020. Under the chairmanship of Mr. Ahmed Al Khalifa (Bahrain), the thirty members of the Policy Commission were present at the session. The agenda are divided into two parts. Item A is about issues for information, progress reports for noting or issues unanimously agreed by Working Groups and Committees for endorsement. Item B is mostly issues requiring discussion, orientation or guidance. The meeting went well and highly appreciated by the members.

Jakarta (1 Dec, 2020) – In regards to the upcoming WCO 83^rd Session of Policy Commission Meeting, Indonesia Customs as a WCO Asia Pacific Vice Chair initiated Regional Caucus Virtual Meeting to seek member’s opinion/thought to capture the voices of the Asia Pacific Region. The meeting that was attended by 10 member countries, consist of: Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Myanmar, New Zealand, Singapore, and Sri Lanka, discussed and shared views on some topics that become the concerns of the region. The Vice Chair took notes of the inputs from members and will convey it to the Policy Commission.

On 18 – 19 November 2020, WCO A/P Vice-chair and 42 Delegates from 17 customs administrations in Asia Pacific region convened the virtual Foresight Strategic Workshop for Asia Pacific that held and directly chaired by the Deputy Secretary General of WCO, Mr. Ricardo Trevino. The aim of the workshop is to introduce the foresight strategy combined with the environmental scan and how to implement it in the region. As the output, application of the foresight strategy in the Asia Pacific Region is expected to bring the conclusions and outcomes that represent members’ priorities in the definition of WCO Strategic Plan for 2022-2025.

Indonesia Customs held Joint Session of 21st Regional Heads of Customs Administration (RHCA) Conference and 30th Regional Contact Points (RCP) Meeting on 12 November 2020. This meeting was a joint session of RHCA Conference and RCP Meeting aiming to discuss some pending issues and regional priority agendas. This virtual meeting led by the Director General of Customs and Excise of the Republic of Indonesia, as a WCO Asia Pacific Vice Chair, and was attended by 65 participants from 24 customs administrations in Asia Pacific region, the WCO Secretary General, Heads of Regional Office for Capacity Building Asia Pacific (ROCB A/P), and Heads of Regional Intelligence Liaison Office Asia Pacific (RILO A/P).

Jakarta (3/10/2020) – Indonesia Customs successfully held the commemoration of the 74^th National Customs Day virtually. The theme of this year celebration was ”Complements Diversity to Build the Nation in Togetherness” presented with fascinating concept that can be seen from the participant’s dress code; the combination of ceremonial uniform with traditional headdress. This commemoration was attended by Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia, Deputy Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia, Director General of Indonesia Customs, echelon 1 officials in Ministry of Finance, Customs Attaché in Jakarta and representatives of International organizations in Asia Pacific region, high officials, customs officers and former customs officers across Indonesia. As a whole, up to 2700 participants came up on both Zoom Meeting application and “Kanal Bea Cukai TV” YouTube live streaming to celebrate one of the biggest Indonesia Customs events. 

The 4^th International Webinar Series of Customs COLLAGE (Customs Collaboration Beyond the Edge) was successfully held by Indonesian Customs and Excise Training Center in collaboration with Directorate General of Customs and Excise, WCO Asia/Pacific Vice Chair, and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on September 10, 2020. Up to 400 participants from more than 26 countries and organizations participated in this Webinar on “Escalating Threat from Transnational Organized Crime and How We Can Collaborate”.

On 12 August, Indonesia Customs and Excise Training Center in collaboration with ROCB A/P were successfully held the 2^nd International Customs Webinar Series entitled “Customs Collage: Customs Collaboration beyond the Edge”. The topic of the webinar was “Capacity Building at the Turning Point: Challenge the Tradition or Embrace Transformation”.

On 15 July, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DGCE) of the Republic of Indonesia successfully held a virtual launching ceremony as Indonesia assuming Vice-Chairmanship of the WCO for the Asia Pacific Region. The virtual launching ceremony was attended by 420 participants not only Indonesia Customs Officials, but also distinguished guests from WCO Secretariat in Brussels, ROCB A/P, RILO A/P, International Organization, Customs Attaché, and Embassy in Jakarta.

The Japan Customs has three main missions: namely, realizing a safe and secure society; collecting duties and taxes appropriately and in a fair manner; 

Some of the best practices adopted by various Customs Administrations of Asia Pacific region to facilitate the trade in recent past in view of COVID-19 outbreak are as follows:

Union Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Shri  Anurag Singh Thakur has expressed confidence that with concerted efforts of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), India would further improve its position in ranking for Ease of Doing Business. 

Bangladesh Customs has celebrated International Customs Day on 26 January, 2020 with great festivity as elsewhere around the world. National Board of Revenue (NBR) undertook a wide range of programmes to celebrate the day in a befitting manner.