CBEC to host 11th Asia Europe Meeting in Goa

PANAJI: The Central Board of Excise and Customs ( CBEC) will host the 11th Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) of the Directors General, Commissioners of Customs here on October 8-9.

The meeting will be chaired by CBEC Chairman Najib Shah.

India is hosting the Head of Customs administrations meeting for the first time since joining the ASEM forum in 2008, an official CBEC note issued here today said.

Heads of Customs administrations and delegates from 53 member States of ASEM -- 30 from Asia, 21 from Europe and two international organisations, namely European Commission and the ASEAN Secretariat -- are expected to attend the meet.

Kunio Mikuria, Secretary General, World Customs Organisation (WCO) shall be present at the event as an observer, the release said.

Established in 1996, ASEM aims to strengthen the Asia-Europe relations and in this direction provides opportunities for dialogues and cooperation between countries of Asia and Europe in wide areas covering politics, economy, culture and others, it said.

Cooperation in Customs matters between Asia and Europe is an important element of the ASEM framework and the Directors General and Commissioners of Customs of ASEM meet biennially to discuss current developments and priorities of Customs work.

The two-day meeting will focus on the five main priorities of ASEM - trade facilitation and supply chain security, combating infringement on IPR, protection of society and environment, involving business, and communication and visibility.

The participants will deliberate on a new action plan for 2016-17 which shall reflect the priorities of Customs administrations as they face the twin challenges of facilitating trade and ensuring legal compliance as global trade volumes rise, the release added.