At the invitation of the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and Chairperson of the WCO Council, Edward Kieswetter, the heads of 30 of the 31 Customs administrations that form the WCO Policy Commission gathered in Cape Town from 3 to 5 December 2024 to discuss key issues and set the way forward for the Organization over the coming months.
In his opening address, WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders welcomed delegates and thanked the Government of South Africa, and SARS in particular, for the kind hospitality and careful preparation of the meeting, which would undoubtedly be conducive to fruitful discussions. Secretary General Saunders went on to remind delegates that the Policy Commission was responsible for driving key decisions that would impact the future work of the WCO and thus influence the manner in which Customs administrations around the world come together to make the vision of trade facilitation, supply chain security, economic prosperity, and protection of society a reality.
The Chairperson of the WCO Council, Edward Kieswetter, then took the floor, highlighting in his welcoming remarks the active participation of SARS in the work of the WCO since South Africa joined the Organization in 1964, as well as his commitment as Chairperson of the WCO Council since 2023. He explained that SARS was committed not only to aligning with Customs best practice and standards, but also to helping shape the Customs community reform agenda and to positioning itself as a benchmark for other Customs administrations.
Ashor Sarupen, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Finance, also welcomed participants to Cape Town, explaining that the city was the legislative capital of South Africa, where many of the laws implemented by SARS were first created. He expressed his satisfaction to see the Policy Commission back in his country after more than 20 years, while noting that sizeable changes had taken place since then, changes that had significantly transformed the Customs community. During this period, he said that the WCO had shown steadfast support to Customs administrations as they faced increasingly complex demands, and he congratulated the Organization for its resilience. While commending the WCO for the excellent work so far, he challenged participants not to become complacent or turn too quickly to the latest trend when defining priorities.
During the three-day meeting, delegates discussed a wide range of topics, including Performance Measurement, Fragile Borders and Trade-Based Money Laundering, as well as considering proposals to enhance the Harmonized System. The Policy Commission also deliberated on important governance topics, including the implementation of the WCO Modernization Plan and the update of the organizational structure. Delegates took an in-depth look at prospective content for the next WCO Strategic Plan, a key document that will guide the Organization and determine its work priorities for the next three years.
As is customary, a detailed report on the session will be published in late December, on the WCO website, and will be available for the Organization’s Members to consult.