At the invitation of the Acting Controller of Brunei’s Royal Customs and Excise Department (RCED), Mr. A.H. Pengiran Hasnan, WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya visited Bandar Sen Begawan, Brunei on 26 and 27 July 2017 to discuss Customs reform in response to the national economic diversification policy and meet with political leaders to raise the profile of Customs.
Dr. Mikuriya had a meeting with Brunei’s Minister of Finance II, Mr. Dato Abdul Rahman bin Ibrahim, to talk about the modern role of Customs in contributing to economic competitiveness, as well as to explore ways of further enhancing the relationship between Customs and the WCO in support of modernization and human resource development within Brunei Customs, including early ratification of the Revised Kyoto Convention.
Secretary General Mikuriya went on to meet with Brunei’s Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II, Mr. Dato Erywan Yusof, to exchange views on the changes taking place in the trade landscape, including e-commerce and the contribution of Customs. Acknowledging the crucial role played by Customs in economic development, protection of society and revenue collection, both Ministers wish to enhance cooperation with the WCO in the area of Customs capacity building.
After having met with Brunei Customs’ senior management to discuss the way forward, Secretary General Mikuriya gave a special lecture to Customs officers, senior officers from the Prime Minister's Office and other government agencies on Customs modernization in the context of the Ease of Doing Business index.