WCO Secretariat celebrates International Customs Day 2023

27 January 2023

On 26 January, the Secretariat of the World Customs Organization (WCO) celebrated the International Customs Day at its Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. The celebration was supported by Belgium Customs. This year also marks the celebration of the Organization’s 70th anniversary, commemorating the inaugural session of the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC) which took place on 26 January 1953.

On this occasion, as it is customary, the Secretary General of the WCO, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, shared on the WCO Website a message to announce and elaborate on the theme of the year 2023 “Nurturing the Next Generation: Promoting a Culture of Knowledge-sharing and Professional Pride in Customs”. The theme will guide the Customs family and its partners throughout the year to place human capital, and especially the new generation, at the heart of the transformation of Customs - an approach the WCO has been advocating for several years.

Earlier in the day, the Secretary General took part in the celebrations organized by Belgium Customs, which saw the participation of Mr. Hans D’Hondt, President of the Belgian Federal Finance Public Service (SPF Finances), Mr. Vincent Van Peteghem, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr. Gerassimos Thomas, Director-General of DG TAXUD, and Mr. Kristian Vanderwaeren, General Administrator of Belgian Customs and Excise. During this event Belgian Customs Officers as well as Customs Attachés were rewarded for their achievements during the past year. A parade followed from the Brussels Grand Place to the iconic Manneken-Pis statue which was dressed for the occasion in a Customs uniform.

The Secretary General then addressed the personnel of the Secretariat and Customs attachés at its Headquarters, in the presence of several guests including Ambassadors based in Belgium. Dr. Mikuriya explained the relevance of Customs in today’s international trade landscape and the importance for Customs to establish ways to transfer knowledge to the new generation of Customs officers. He went on to say that this approach must be rooted in the administration’s culture. It requires not only dynamic inter-generational relationships, but also an outward-looking attitude, characterized by exchanges with the actors engaged in the movement of goods and passengers, as well as with service providers and with academia. He also thanked Belgium Customs for its participation in this celebration.

The Belgium General Administrator of Customs and Excise, Mr. Kristian Vanderwaeren, thanked the WCO Secretariat for the opportunity to participate in the event and highlighted the importance of this year’s theme of knowledge-sharing with the young generation to ensure Customs’ relevance in a rapidly changing international trade landscape.

Photos

  • Earlier in the day, the Secretary General took part in the celebrations organized by Belgium Customs

    Earlier in the day, the Secretary General took part in the celebrations organized by Belgium Customs

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  • WCO SG during his address at the City Hall of Brussels on the occasion of the ICD celebration by Belgium Customs

    WCO SG during his address at the City Hall of Brussels on the occasion of the ICD celebration by Belgium Customs

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  • The event saw the participation of, from l. to r., Mr. Gerassimos Thomas, Director-General of DG TAXUD, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, WCO Secretary General, Mr. Vincent Van Peteghem, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and Mr. Kristian Vanderwaeren, General Administrator of Belgian Customs and Excise ( as well as Mr. Hans D'Hondt, Président du SPF Finances, not on the picture)

    The event saw the participation of, from l. to r., Mr. Gerassimos Thomas, Director-General of DG TAXUD, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, WCO Secretary General, Mr. Vincent Van Peteghem, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and Mr. Kristian Vanderwaeren, General Administrator of Belgian Customs and Excise ( as well as Mr. Hans D'Hondt, Président du SPF Finances, not on the picture)

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  • Group picture with the awarded Customs officers and attachés at the City Hall of Brussels

    Group picture with the awarded Customs officers and attachés at the City Hall of Brussels

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  • The parade culminated at the Manneken-Pis statue which was dressed for the occasion in a Customs uniform

    The parade culminated at the Manneken-Pis statue which was dressed for the occasion in a Customs uniform

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  • Dr. Mikuriya during his speech in front of the Manneken-Pis statue

    Dr. Mikuriya during his speech in front of the Manneken-Pis statue

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  • Back to the WCO Headquarters, the Secretary General addressed the personnel of the Secretariat and Customs attachés

    Back to the WCO Headquarters, the Secretary General addressed the personnel of the Secretariat and Customs attachés

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  • WCO SG Mikuriya underlined, in his address, the relevance of Customs in today’s international trade landscape and the importance for Customs to establish ways to transfer knowledge to the new generation of Customs officers

    WCO SG Mikuriya underlined, in his address, the relevance of Customs in today’s international trade landscape and the importance for Customs to establish ways to transfer knowledge to the new generation of Customs officers

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  • In his speech, the Belgium General Administrator of Customs and Excise, Mr. Kristian Vanderwaeren, insisted on the importance of this year’s theme of knowledge-sharing with the young generation to ensure Customs’ relevance in a rapidly changing international trade landscape

    In his speech, the Belgium General Administrator of Customs and Excise, Mr. Kristian Vanderwaeren, insisted on the importance of this year’s theme of knowledge-sharing with the young generation to ensure Customs’ relevance in a rapidly changing international trade landscape

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  • The Belgian Ministry of Finance official Music Band during the ICD celebration at WCO Headquarters

    The Belgian Ministry of Finance official Music Band during the ICD celebration at WCO Headquarters

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