Trade facilitation takes centre stage in Asia/Pacific

The ASIA/PACIFIC region is experiencing rapid economic growth along with increased integration of global markets for goods, services and investment. In this environment, Customs is playing an important role by facilitating the international movement of goods and people while safeguarding national and regional interests. To contribute more effectively to this economic growth, many Customs authorities in the Asia/Pacific region have been pushing themselves to reform and modernize their administrations. They are working both individually and collaboratively to make steady progress towards that goal and the WCO and the Asia/Pacifi c Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB A/P) have been assisting their efforts in a number of ways. Some good examples of regional efforts appear below.