Pacific and Asia customs officials are meeting in Marshall Islands this week over collaboration to modernize island customs operations, combat money laundering and develop harmonized tariffs in the region, the Pacific Magazine reported on Tuesday.
For the first time, customs officials from Japan and China are participating in the 10th annual conference of the Oceania Customs Organization (OCO).
The five-day event, starting on Monday, also involves numerous law enforcement agencies in the region, including the U.S. Coast Guard and the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police organization.
Oceania is becoming increasingly important to larger nations of Asia and key law enforcement groups, said Robert Taylor, head of the Fiji-based Oceania Customs Organization.
"The focus post 9/11 has been to strengthen border controls and prevent the flow of weapons of mass destruction," Taylor said. "We (customs) are more than just revenue collectors. We are community protectors."
An agreement is to be signed later this week between OCO and the World Customs Organization to help bring national customs systems and practices into line with international practices.
Taylor said that combating money laundering and specifically controlling the movement of currency in and out of the Pacific is a key issue for discussion and action at the meeting.
He said several islands now are moving to develop legislation and reporting systems for controlling movement of cash.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article