(January 26, 2003 )

The Secretariat of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) joins the Customs Administrations of its member states in celebrating the 51^st International Customs Day falling on January 26, 2003.

Cognizant of the importance of international trade and the key role which customs administrations must play in facilitating legitimate and secure operations of international business, the World Customs Organization (WCO), has selected, "Trade Security and Facilitation and the Role of Customs" as the theme for this year.

The increased global threat of terrorism and organized crime and the need to protect international trade supply chain from being used to further acts of terrorism and other criminal activity is a sad reality. It is vital therefore to re-examine the role of customs in relation to security in the widest possible sense and look for ways in which this role can be enhanced without adversely affecting international trade.

The performance of this role, however, is not only fraught with challenges but presents also a serious dilemma. On the one hand the international traders expect customs administration to offer a wide range of business-friendly services and on the other there is a very reasonable expectation from the governments as well as the traders that customs administration should exercise controls that provide the necessary security to international trade operations. The way out of this dilemma is however to be found in striking a balance between increased vigilance and trade facilitation role of customs.

It may be recalled that the present incumbency of the Chairman of the Council of Heads of Customs Administrations (CHCA) has passed on to Pakistan since it was last convened in September 2002. I am sure that with the able leadership of the new chairman from Pakistan, the ECO customs community would surmount all challenges and attain ever higher standards of professional excellence.

In ECO, we have formulated many programs over the last few years aimed at enhancing the role of customs administrations of the member states as well as ensuring optimal efficiency in the intra-regional transit operations. The establishment of the ECO Smuggling and Customs Offences Data Bank in Turkey and the efforts to realize early operationalization of the Transit Trade and Transit Transport Framework Agreements are clear manifestations of ECO’s desire to achieve equilibrium in trade security and facilitation.

Capacity building of customs administrations of the member states is another important area where ECO is involved. As may be recalled during the 2^nd Council of Heads of Customs Administration (CHCA) Meeting held in Tehran on September 01, 2002, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran and Republic of Turkey threw open the doors of their training facilities to the customs officials of other member states. Assistance to Afghan Customs Administration was also offered by their Iranian, Pakistani and Turkish counterparts.

Harmonization of Customs Rules and Procedures being a key component of any regional attempts towards securing an efficient trading environment, is being attached a renewed importance by ECO. Towards this end, the services of a UNDP Consultant have been engaged, to prepare an action plan for region-wide application and implementation of all standardized and harmonized instruments devised by the World Trade Organization and WCO.

It may also be stressed that while our region-wide customs community makes dynamic and vigorous contribution to security and facilitating regional trade, they must not lose the spirit of cooperation which has been so painstakingly developed. There is, therefore, a need to further develop this spirit by joining hands and by finding new and better ways of working together towards our common objectives and ideals.

In the end I wish all the success to the Customs Administration of the Member States in their sincere efforts towards securing a better and prosperous future for the people of our region.

Ambassador Seyed Mojtaba Arastou

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