The Director of Customs and Inland Revenue Mr. Ben Leeshi when taking up office in August 2005 had a vision to graduate Vanuatu forward to become a member of the World Customs Organization (WCO).

As a Director responsible for Customs matters he was exposed to the increasing challenges Customs Organizations faces everyday and quickly realized the need for his administration to join the WCO.

The WCO is the only intergovernmental organization exclusively focuses on Customs matters. With its worldwide membership, the WCO is now recognized as the voice of the global Customs community. It is particularly noted for its work in areas covering the development of global standards, the simplification and harmonization of Customs procedures, trade supply chain security, the facilitation of international trade, the enhancement of Customs enforcement and compliance activities, anti-counterfeiting and piracy initiatives, public-private partnerships, integrity promotion, and sustainable global Customs capacity building programmes. The WCO also maintains the international Harmonized System goods nomenclature, and administers the technical aspects of the WTO Agreements on Customs Valuation and Rules of origin.

As a forum for dialogue and exchange of experiences between national Customs delegates, Vanuatu looks forward to benefit from a range of Conventions and other international instruments provided by WCO, as well as technical assistance and training services provided either directly by the Secretariat, or with its participation. The Secretariat also actively supports its Members in their endeavors to modernize and build capacity within their national Customs administrations.
 
Besides the vital role played by the WCO in stimulating the growth of legitimate international trade, its efforts to combat fraudulent activities are also recognized internationally. The partnership approach championed by the WCO is one of the keys to building bridges between Customs administrations and their partners. By promoting the emergence of an honest, transparent and predictable Customs environment, the WCO directly contributes to the economic and social well-being of its Members.

With effect from 17 November 2009, the Republic of Vanuatu become the 176^th Member of the WCO by depositing its instrument of accession to the 1952 Convention Establishing the Customs Co-operation Council. This was advised by the Belgium Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
 
Today, the WCO represents 176 Customs administrations across the globe that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade. As the global centre of Customs expertise, the WCO is the only international organization with competence in Customs matters and can rightly call itself the voice of the international Customs community.

The WCO operates with a regional structure and Vanuatu is now part of the Asia/Pacific region with the regional office for Capacity Building based in Bangkok Thailand.

This is indeed an important milestone for the Vanuatu Customs Administration and as such we should thank everyone including corporate entities who have worked tirelessly in Vanuatu to make this happen. We acknowledged the political support shown through the  Council of Ministers endorsement to join the WCO.     
 
Vanuatu looks forward to work closely with the Secretary General of the WCO, Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, and the Secretariat.  


CIR Corporate Services- December 2009