The World Customs Organization (WCO) has advised that the 36th East and Southern African Region (ESA) Regional Steering Group (RSG) meeting was held from 23 to 25 November 2022 in Antananarivo, Madagascar. The meeting was attended by representatives from thirteen (13) Member Customs Administrations of the WCO ESA Region, the Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB), the WCO Secretariat, the Regional Training Centres and the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office.
The Director General of Madagascar Customs welcomed all the delegates to Madagascar. In his remarks, he emphasised the need for continuous capacity-building support to enhance Customs professionalism in the region. He added that the region is fortunate to have a dynamic ROCB, attentive to Member Customs Administrations’ needs, and appreciated the support the WCO has been providing in the region to improve Customs Administrations’ efficiency.
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Madagascar formally opened the meeting. In his opening remarks, he highlighted, among other things, the current context of globalisation, in which Customs are incessantly called to adapt and be agile in responding to emerging global trade issues. He acknowledged the importance of Customs Administrations working together to ensure fair trade treatment, trade facilitation and efficient revenue collection.
During the meeting, the ROCB presented a comprehensive report highlighting major work undertaken in the region after the last meeting of the RSG held in May 2022. The progress and achievements in the context of the ESA Regional Strategy (2022 to 2025) were reported and discussed.
The meeting was very interactive and provided the opportunity for the delegates to share national practices and approaches relating to different topics such as:
· trade facilitation and integration;
· efficient revenue mobilisation and Customs modernisation;
· security, enforcement and compliance; and
· professionalism and partnership, allowing delegates to make contributions about the topics.
The WCO Secretariat made a presentation updating the meeting on some recent initiatives and emerging matters. In the presentation, delegates were informed that the WCO Council Sessions, held in June 2022, had approved the WCO Strategic Plan (2022 to 2025) with the respective annual implementation plan.
Furthermore, the Secretariat listed key emerging topics being discussed in WCO meetings, namely Data Analytics, Green Customs and Fragile Borders. The WCO Secretariat shared with the meeting updated information concerning WCO capacity-building work carried out in the region and other aspects, including regional accreditation issues, which the delegates considered important matters for the region.