Customs : HAPPY INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMS DAY 2014

Instituted by the World Customs Organization (WCO), International Customs Day is held on January 26, which commemorates the day in 1953 when the inaugural session of the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) was held in Brussels, Belgium. Therefore, International Customs Day (ICD) is organized yearly to understand the role of custom officials and agencies in maintaining border security. It focuses on the working conditions and challenges that customs officers face in their jobs. Besides that, on this day, custom agency all around the world holds employee appreciation events where custom officers are recognized for their exemplary service. Workshops, conferences and talks that focus on the year’s theme and the challenges that agencies as well as the officers face are also held. Several agencies also hold public outreach events where they educate the public about their jobs and responsibilities.

International customs day is celebrated every year using different themes or slogan to focus on the particular event. The theme of the celebration of international customs day 2010 was “Customs-Business Partnership”. Another theme of the international customs day celebration was “Knowledge, a catalyst for Customs Excellence” to effectively implement the mandatory services by the customs fraternity. The theme of the celebration of 2013 was “Innovation for Customs progress”. In the year 2014, the theme is Communication: sharing information for better cooperation. International Customs Day theme highlights the significance of business partnership approach. It contributes in many areas such as trade supply chain security, worldwide customs growth, enhancing business standards and public-private enterprises. WCO members celebrate international customs day as a magnificent reminder to play vital role to the customs bodies all over the world.

The objectives of Celebrating International Customs Day are as below

·         It is celebrated to enhance the effectiveness and efficacy of the member customs administrations.

·         To innovatively assist the member custom administrations to actively contribute to the custom development.

·         To achieve the international level goals.

·         To enhance the revenue collection, community protection, national security and trade statistics collection.

Attached is the message from the World Customs Organization (WCO) presented by its Secretary General, Kunio Mikuriya.

Thank you.

Best regards,

Mahinder Singh Malhi