Maldives embraces a wider Customs focus
Brussels, 29 July 2011
Report
At the invitation of Commissioner General Mohamed Aswan of Maldives Customs Service (MCS), WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya spoke at the MCS’s 121st anniversary ceremony in Malé, Maldives on 27 July 2011.
The Maldives government recently took a policy decision to widen Customs' focus from revenue collection to border management including security, facilitation, the fight against drug trafficking and other transnational crimes. Following this development, Maldives Customs adopted in 2010 its 2011-2013 Strategic Plan to manage the transformation.
In his keynote address Secretary General Mikuriya highlighted the global trend of expanding Customs’ role in the current fast-changing world and commended the MCS for the progress in its new direction through its Strategic Plan. He also praised the efforts made to enhance international cooperation with Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices and Customs Enforcement Networks and for having taken a coordinated border management approach with police and other border agencies. He went on to congratulate the passing of the Maldives Customs Act earlier this year, in line with WCO standards, and expressed his support for MCS’s decision to soon accede to the WCO Revised Kyoto Convention.
During the ceremony the MCS launched its WCO E-learning platform as part of a staff development policy, the first focus area of its Strategic Plan, in the presence of the Maldives Minister of Finance and Treasury, Ahmed Inaz, who also inaugurated the new rank structure within the MCS.
Secretary General Mikuriya took this opportunity to discuss Customs’ contribution to border management with Vice President Mohamed Waheed and Maldives Minister of Economic Development, Mahamood Razee on 28 July 2011. In addition, he held a meeting with business leaders who expressed their appreciation for the MSC’s partnership approach as well as supporting its new direction and progress achieved.