At the invitation of the Director General of German Customs Mr. Julian Würtenberger, Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya attended an inaugural ceremony of the new German Central Customs Authority in the former location of the German Parliament, Altes Wasserwerk, in Bonn on 1 February 2016.
Addressing the guests, Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble, Federal Minister of Finance, highlighted the many important functions of Customs in today’s challenging environment, particularly in the context of heightened revenue collection and trade regulation.
Secretary General Mikuriya emphasized the role of Customs in the protection of society and ensuring the flow of legitimate trade. He also expressed his thanks to Germany for its continued support for WCO activities, including the provision of human resources and donor funding.
Guests were welcomed by the Mayor of Bonn, Mr. Ashok-Alexander Sridharan, who acknowledged the importance of the presence of Customs in Bonn and the continuation of that presence by the establishment of the Central Authority in the city.
Mr. Uwe Schröder, Director General of the Central Customs Authority, delivered the inaugural address during which he outlined the work of the new Authority, stating that it would streamline Customs processes, enhance the efficiency of the organization, and ensure smooth exchanges with the Ministry of Finance. He also emphasized the importance of international cooperation and continued liaison with the WCO.
The Secretary General and Mr. Würtenberger availed of the opportunity to discuss a number of issues of mutual interest.