12th WCO Regional Heads of Customs Administrations Conference

14 Apr '08

3 min read

India is hosting the 12th World Customs Organization's Regional Heads of Customs Administrations Conference at New Delhi from April 14th to 17th.

Around 100 delegates comprising Heads of Customs Administrations and Observers are attending the Conference from Asia-Pacific, Europe and Africa. Shri P. C Jha, Chairman of the Central Board of Excise and Customs & the WCO, Vice Chair, will lead India in the discussion in this Conference.

The World Customs Organization (WCO), established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC), is an independent inter-governmental body with the mission to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations. Today, the WCO represents 172 Customs administrations across the globe that collectively processes approximately 98% of world trade.

As the global centre of Customs expertise, the WCO is the only international organization with competence in Customs matters. Geographically, the members have been divided into following six regions, each of whom elect a Vice Chair to head the region for a period of 2 years

• East and Southern Africa
• Europe
• Far East, South and South East Asia, Australasia and the Pacific Islands
• North of Africa, Near and Middle East
• South America, North America, Central America and the Caribbean
• West and Central Africa

The Indian Customs has been a Member of the World Customs Organization (WCO) since 1971. During its Membership in this international – intergovernmental body, India has participated actively in developments in the fields of Classification, Valuation, Customs procedures and enforcement.

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