On 20 November 2024, the World Customs Organization (WCO) Regional Office for Capacity Building for the Asia/Pacific region (ROCB A/P) in Bangkok, Thailand, brought together distinguished delegates from the region’s Customs administrations to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

This event, co-organized with Thai Customs, marked the milestone achievement of two decades’ worth of efforts to build the capacities of WCO Member Customs administrations in the A/P region.

On this occasion, the WCO Secretary General, Ian Saunders, conveyed his congratulations through a video message in which he acknowledged the ROCB A/P’s contribution to the modernization and development of Customs administrations in the region, by supporting the WCO's capacity-building activities and promoting the dissemination and implementation of WCO tools. He also expressed his gratitude to Thai Customs, as the ROCB A/P host administration, as well as to China, Hong Kong (China), Japan and Korea for seconding Attachés to support the ROCB A/P’s work.

Following the Secretary General’s address, the Head of the ROCB A/P, Jun Tajima, delivered his welcoming remarks, echoing the message of appreciation to Thai Customs as the host of the ROCB A/P, while stressing that the ROCB’s achievements were the result of the collective work carried out by the Office. He also delivered an insightful presentation highlighting the ROCB A/P’s most significant achievements over the past two decades.

The WCO Vice-Chair for the Asia/Pacific region, from Hong Kong (China) Customs, reflected on the ROCB’s accomplishments in enhancing regional cooperation and promoting knowledge sharing among the region’s Customs administrations. He concluded his intervention by commending the Office’s role in bringing the region closer together, while reaffirming the important part played by the ROCB’s host administration in these successes.