WCO Secretariat celebrates International Customs Day

24 January 2020

International Customs Day (ICD), which is officially marked on 26 January every year, was celebrated by the WCO Secretariat on 24 January 2020 at the Organization’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, and co-hosted by Luxembourg Customs.

The WCO’s official theme for 2020, namely “Customs fostering Sustainability for People, Prosperity and the Planet,” was officially announced by the Secretary General, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya. The theme will guide Customs and its partners throughout the year to put sustainability at the centre of their future improvements in practices and processes.

Guests from the Customs community were welcomed by Secretary General Mikuriya, who focused his speech on the way Customs can contribute to a sustainable future where social, economic, health and environmental considerations are fully integrated, as well as how we can all, as individuals, change habits and practices for the betterment of society and the planet. He highlighted the initiative taken by the Secretariat to eliminate the use of plastic bottles during meetings by putting at the disposal of delegates 100% recyclable and reusable water bottles that can be filled with filtered tap water. He also thanked Luxembourg Customs for its generous support.

The Director General of Luxembourg Customs, Mr. Alain Bellot, thanked the WCO Secretariat for the opportunity to participate in the event with the Customs family and highlighted the different responsibilities entrusted to Customs administrations with regards to environment protection and social cohesion. He concluded that ICD was also an opportunity to thank the dedicated men and women who show their commitment and dedication on a day-to-day basis.

After the official opening of the event, guests witnessed, at first-hand, a sniffer dog from Luxembourg’s Canine Unit in action, visited the mobile scanning van and road inspection vehicles brought to the event by Luxembourg Customs, and were entertained by Luxembourg’s 30-person Customs orchestra.

Secretary General Mikuriya also participated, earlier in the day, in the celebration of ICD by Belgium Customs at the Brussels City Hall. The celebrations were presided over by the Belgium General Administrator of Customs and Excise, Mr. Kristian Vanderwaeren, who gave Certificates of Merit to deserving Customs officers as well as Customs’ partners. Dr. Mikuriya was invited to address the guests and share some insights on the theme of the year. The ceremony was followed by a parade led by the official band of Belgium’s Ministry of Finance, concluding with the unveiling of the Belgian Customs uniform worn by the iconic Manneken-Pis statue.

Photos

  • Belgium’s iconic Manneken-Pis statue is dressed in a Customs officer’s uniform to celebrate International Customs Day

    Belgium’s iconic Manneken-Pis statue is dressed in a Customs officer’s uniform to celebrate International Customs Day

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  • From left to right: Ricardo Treviño Chapa, WCO Deputy Secretary General; Alain Bellot, Director General of Luxembourg Customs; Kunio Mikuriya, WCO Secretary General; Kristian Vanderwaeren, Belgium General Administrator of Customs and Excise

    From left to right: Ricardo Treviño Chapa, WCO Deputy Secretary General; Alain Bellot, Director General of Luxembourg Customs; Kunio Mikuriya, WCO Secretary General; Kristian Vanderwaeren, Belgium General Administrator of Customs and Excise

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  • Celebration of ICD by Belgium Customs at the Brussels City Hall. From left to right: Taeil Kang, WCO Director of Capacity Building; Ricardo Treviño Chapa, WCO Deputy Secretary General; Kristian Vanderwaeren, Belgium General Administrator of Customs and Excise; Kunio Mikuriya, WCO Secretary General; Ping Liu, WCO Director of the Tariff and Trade Affairs Directorate; Pranab Kumar Das, WCO Director of Compliance and Facilitation

    Celebration of ICD by Belgium Customs at the Brussels City Hall. From left to right: Taeil Kang, WCO Director of Capacity Building; Ricardo Treviño Chapa, WCO Deputy Secretary General; Kristian Vanderwaeren, Belgium General Administrator of Customs and Excise; Kunio Mikuriya, WCO Secretary General; Ping Liu, WCO Director of the Tariff and Trade Affairs Directorate; Pranab Kumar Das, WCO Director of Compliance and Facilitation

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  • Guests gather at WCO headquarters to celebrate International Customs Day

    Guests gather at WCO headquarters to celebrate International Customs Day

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  • Secretary General Mikuriya focused his speech on the way Customs can contribute to a sustainable future as well as how we can all, as individuals, change habits and practices for the betterment of society and the planet

    Secretary General Mikuriya focused his speech on the way Customs can contribute to a sustainable future as well as how we can all, as individuals, change habits and practices for the betterment of society and the planet

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  • From left to right: Kristian Vanderwaeren, Kunio Mikuriya andt Alain Bellot holding 100% recyclable and reusable water bottles that delegates can be fill with filtered tap water

    From left to right: Kristian Vanderwaeren, Kunio Mikuriya andt Alain Bellot holding 100% recyclable and reusable water bottles that delegates can be fill with filtered tap water

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  • Guests gather at WCO headquarters to celebrate International Customs Day

    Guests gather at WCO headquarters to celebrate International Customs Day

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  • Guests being entertained by the Luxembourg Customs orchestra

    Guests being entertained by the Luxembourg Customs orchestra

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  • Guests being entertained by the Luxembourg Customs orchestra

    Guests being entertained by the Luxembourg Customs orchestra

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  • Samples of seizures made by Luxembourg Customs

    Samples of seizures made by Luxembourg Customs

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  • Luxembourg Customs officers stand in front of a mobile scanning van

    Luxembourg Customs officers stand in front of a mobile scanning van

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  • Luxembourg Customs dog and handler teams demonstrate their capacity to detect cash

    Luxembourg Customs dog and handler teams demonstrate their capacity to detect cash

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