26th Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) Annual Conference

It should also be noted that the Executive Leadership Workshop for Customs Leaders was held the week prior to the conference. In today’s rapidly changing world, effective leadership is essential to addressing complex challenges and seizing opportunities for growth and innovation. The workshop focused on various topics such as motivating teams, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and empowering customs professionals to lead with vision and integrity. The final day of the workshop focused on practical leadership skills: risk management, implementing change, and real-world leadership examples. These discussions were designed to help Pacific Customs leaders make informed decisions, drive organizational change, and effectively lead their teams. Special thanks to Professor David Widdowson and the Customs and Excise Research Centre at Charles Sturt University for this opportunity!

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The conference opened with opening remarks from the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, the Honourable Mark Brown, who stressed the “urgency of regional cooperation and safeguarding the region’s future”. The opening ceremony was also attended by distinguished guests from the High Commission and OCO partners. The opening ceremony stressed the importance of regional security, trade and the spirit of cooperation among the OCO community, regional and international partners.

Members presented the latest progress in customs modernization and reform, highlighted initiatives to improve administrative efficiency in line with international best practices, reduce corruption and increase efficiency, and discussed the main challenges facing customs administrations. Key outcomes included reaffirmation of the latest progress in advancing automation, simplifying customs procedures, strengthening governance, and the implementation of the Harmonized System (HS) and customs valuation.

The second session featured a panel discussion on how to enhance regional trade facilitation through advanced data management and analytics, while also highlighting the benefits of simplified and integrated customs procedures. Members and partners shared updates on current trends and challenges in trade facilitation. In addition, partners elaborated on new capabilities as enablers of performance management and reiterated the importance of data management to achieve optimal results.

The third session discussed securing global supply chains, highlighting the need for advanced cargo screening technologies and risk-based inspection protocols. Updates on transnational serious organized crime in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Australia were highlights of the session, with the World Shipping Council stressing the importance of supply chain security.

Other sessions included a panel discussion on “Emerging Trends in Pacific Trade and Logistics,” including the growth of e-commerce and its impact; panelists discussed efforts to combat illicit trade and transnational crime, focusing on smuggling, money laundering and drug trafficking and counterfeit goods. This session highlighted the need for coordination, sharing of expertise, and standardized processes, procedures and intelligence products. Another session included a presentation on Strengthening Regional Capacity through Strategic Partnerships, which emphasized capacity building and professional development for customs officers. Regional and international partners shared updates on various capacity building initiatives.

Our regional partners provided updates on regional law enforcement, border security, maritime domain awareness, and immigration, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and information sharing to address common challenges. Members noted the importance of modern MDA intelligence tools to maritime security. Gender equality and workplace diversity were discussed, and the OCO community discussed encouraging progress and initiatives in these areas. Members and OCOs shared their ongoing efforts to embed gender equality and workplace diversity in Customs administration and to strengthen activities with members and partners.

The conference discussed the impact of climate change on customs operations and the adoption of digital transformation trends. The conference shared strategies for managing disruptions and improving efficiency through digital transformation to gain insights into resilience approaches adopted by customs operations. The conference discussed the importance of business continuity plans as part of emergency response measures.

The meeting discussed the issue of regional trade undervaluation, focusing on detection, prevention and cooperation strategies. Members recognized the success of the action and the benefits of sharing information to effectively combat undervaluation. Members committed to continue regional cooperation and look forward to future actions in this area.

At the end of the meeting, all parties committed to continue strengthening the partnership and enhancing cooperation among OCO members and partners to ensure a future-proof customs administration that can meet the dynamic challenges of the Pacific region. The 26th OCO Annual Meeting successfully promoted dialogue, shared valuable insights, and strengthened the commitment of member countries to work together to seek dynamic solutions and a resilient Blue Pacific. The outcomes of the 26th Annual Meeting will guide future initiatives and efforts in customs reform, modernization, trade facilitation, taxation, compliance, enforcement, border security and regional security.

Director John Tacon II, who represented Palau at the meeting, said that members highlighted and shared activities, challenges and solutions undertaken over the past year. We analyzed current challenges and how to address them. As for Palau, the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP) continues to vigorously pursue modernization and reform within the Bureau, which includes strengthening and improving the role of Customs, Immigration and Biosecurity in our economy and society. This also includes working with other border and related agencies, regional and international partners and strengthening partnerships. Some of Palau’s achievements over the past year include ongoing collaboration through the Coordinating Border Management Working Group and our partners, implementation of the ASYCUDAWorld system for Customs and our stakeholders, implementation of the new Immigration Border Management System and Biometrix system at airports, implementation of QR online declaration forms at airports, Palau’s accession to the World Customs Organization (WCO) and Interpol, ongoing training and capacity building, and of course other ongoing projects including the Single Window System, X-Ray/Scanners, restructuring/reclassification of the Bureau, non-intrusive screening facilities at airports, capacity building and other initiatives that are still ongoing.

While automation and emerging technologies go hand in hand with streamlining our processes and procedures, capacity building and strengthening the nation’s revenue collection capabilities are also a few key areas that BCBP continues to leverage and fully exploit. Enforcement and compliance is also a key element and priority for our Bureau, especially as we need to address current and emerging challenges and threats. But more importantly, we need to implement legislation to meet our enforcement and compliance obligations. In order to enhance border security and protection, we need to have a clear legislative framework and policies to support our key programs and processes so that we can play our role in facilitating trade and commerce, mobilizing revenue, and protecting our borders from organized and transnational crime. Tarkong mentioned that twelve (12) years have passed since we first introduced the Customs Law into the OEK, and if we fail to achieve this balance, it will affect our economic activities, finance, and society. As the newest member of the World Customs Organization (WCO) and Interpol, we need to pass the Customs Law to meet our national, regional, and international obligations, which seems to be the top challenge facing BCBP at the moment as the Customs Law has been awaiting approval by the OEK Senate. A lot of time and effort went into drafting the Customs Law and we hope that the OEK Senate will approve it to increase transparency.

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