ASEAN customs officers strengthen cooperation network

The Indonesian Directorate General of Customs and Excise recently hosted the fourth Joint Customs Middle-Management Programme (4th JCMMP), attracting representatives from eight ASEAN Member States and Australia.

ASEAN officials taking part in the online fourth Joint Customs Middle-Management Programme

As a foundation to the networking platform for future customs leaders of the region, the two-day virtual event, promoted knowledge and experience sharing on handling emerging issues in the region, and strengthening the relationships of ASEAN Customs administrations’ middle-management level officers.

Participants discussed various topical issues, such as lessons-learned from the COVID-19 outbreak, coordinated border management, eradicating drugs smuggling, managing illicit trade in waste and other environmentally sensitive commodities, risk management, cooperation between Customs and Tax Authorities, and establishment of effective joint border protection to combat transnational organised crime.

They also joined a fireside-chat session with the Directors-General of Customs attending the event, during which they exchanged views on post-pandemic challenges, technology leverage, and collaboration across borders, and strengthening the Asia-Pacific engagements in multilateral forums.

The fifth edition of the programme is scheduled for next year in Australia./.

VNA