Brunei Joins WCO in Celebrating International Customs Day

The Royal Customs and Excise Department has collected more than one hundred and three million dollars in government revenue from January to December 2003.  This collection includes taxes on imports of vehicles and cigarettes.  Monday, the department celebrated the International Customs Day that carried the theme “Custom’s Role in the Protection of Society”.  It took place at the Head Office of the Custom and Excise Department in Jalan Menteri Besar.  The ceremony began with a parade by thirty-six custom officers. 

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Rahman in his speech outlined the important role of Customs and Excise, not only in the context of global trade but also in the protection of the society.  He said that in carrying out their responsibility, custom officers need to have strong discipline, efficiency and be trustworthy.  He reminded them of the task entrusted upon them in safeguarding the country’s security, especially in the monitoring and control of goods brought into the country including the imposition of tax on imported goods and prevention of contraband goods.

He went on to say that the efficiency of the Royal Customs and Excise Department would be measured not only by the amount of the tariffs collected but also by the role of each staff of the department.

Monday’s activities included the launching of a new version of the Royal Customs and Excise Department’s Website, the presentation of awards for standard of quality or proficiency as well as the presentation of certificates and souvenirs to newly retired officers.

Members of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) have celebrated the International Customs Day every January 26^th, since 1983.  For Brunei’s Royal Customs and Excise Department, this is the fourth time it has celebrated the event since 2001.  The department became the 140th member of WCO on the 1st of July 1996.  To date, WCO has 162 members worldwide.