Customs administrations in the Pacific, recognize the importance of the implementation of the World Customs Organisation’s (WCO) Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) for tariffs and trade statistics and for other purposes e.g. the rules of origin and economic research and analysis. In all free trade agreements that members are parties to and negotiating,…
Mr James Movick, Director General of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), paid a visit at the OCO headquarters in Suva on 10th August 2017 and held discussions with the OCO Head of Secretariat Seve Paeniu. The discussions revolved around options and arrangements for broader maritime law enforcement cooperation, which will be further discussed in greater…
OCO attended the annual WCO Council in Brussels on 6-8 July 2017 The Head of Secretariat Mr Seve Paeniu represented the OCO, as an Observer organization, at the annual WCO Council which met in Brussels, Belgium on 6 – 8 July 2017. The Council session is the annual governance meeting in which over 180 heads…
The OCO Secretariat in partnership with PFTAC and PITTA will be conducting a Regional workshop on VAT fraud and Customs Commercial Fraud, from the 7th to the 11th of August at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi. Anecdotal evidence suggests that VAT fraud is on the increase and if not addressed could potentially result in…
Oceania Customs Organisation members moves towards Revised Kyoto Convention compliance On 26-30 June, 2017, six of the OCO members (Cook Islands, Federated State of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu) joined Vanuatu Customs at their National Workshop on the Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures, known as the Revised Kyoto Convention…
The OCO Secretariat was represented at the WTO/UNCTAD/PIFS Regional Workshop on E-Commerce held on 20-22 June, 2017 at Sheraton Fiji Resort, Nadi, Fiji. The main objective of the Workshop was to update the Pacific countries on recent developments in e-commerce including discussions of Pacific Islands Countries current experiences. The OCO made a presentation on the…
From 12-16 June, 2017, the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) in cooperation with Korea Customs Service held a regional Workshop on Implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation. The Workshop took place at the Customs Border Control Training Institute (CBCTI), Cheon-An, Korea and included participation from twenty four (24) Customs Officials from 13 OCO members (Cook Islands,…
On 14 June 2017 OCO Head of Secretariat, Mr. Seve Paeniu paid a courtesy call on the Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service (KCS), Mr. Hong-uk Chun and Mr Jong-Woo Lee, the Director General of Information and International Affairs Bureau of KCS. The discussions focused on the areas of mutual collaboration and partnership envisioned under…
The Oceania Customs Organisation signed a three year Grant Funding Agreement for FJ$2.49 Million with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT NZ), on 9 June 2017. The OCO, represented by Head of Secretariat, Mr Seve Paeniu, and MFAT NZ, represented by New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji, HE Mark Ramsden, signed…
Consistent with its Strategic Plan 2017-2022 to promote the facilitation of legitimate trade amongst members, the OCO with the financial support of Korea Customs Service will hold a Regional Workshop on the Implementation of the WTO TFA in Korea from 13 to 16 June, 2017. The Workshop will be the first collaborative activity arising out…
