SUVA, FIJI — The Honourable Minister for Finance, Commerce and Business Development, Esrom Yosef Immanuel, officially opened the 28th Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) Annual Conference at the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa in Natadola, Fiji.
The three-day conference brings together representatives from 21 Customs administrations out of the OCO’s 24 members across the Pacific, reflecting strong regional participation and commitment. The gathering provides an opportunity to reflect on four decades of progress while charting a strategic path forward.
In his address, the Hon. Minister highlighted the growing threat of illicit drugs, noting that the Pacific is no longer solely a transit corridor but increasingly a destination, posing serious social, economic, and generational consequences for the region.
Emphasising the need for a unified response to transnational crime, the Hon Minister underscored the importance of strengthened regional cooperation through intelligence sharing, enhanced frontline capabilities, inter-agency collaboration, and alignment with global standards. He reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment, as host of the OCO Secretariat, to advancing this shared mission, stressing that modernising systems, deepening partnerships, and investing in capability development are critical to safeguarding the region’s future. He concluded by calling for continued collective action to secure borders, protect communities, and promote resilient economies guided by the Pacific spirit of cooperation.
OCO Chair and CEO of the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS), Mr. Udit Singh, reinforced the Pacific’s strategic global importance, noting that the region’s maritime and aviation routes place Customs administrations at the centre of global trade security. He highlighted the need to address increasingly sophisticated criminal threats including drug and human trafficking, customs fraud, illicit financial flows, and environmental crimes through innovation, advanced technology, and strengthened expertise.
Under the conference theme, “Scaling Up the Commitment of Customs to Protect and Grow Our Pasifika Communities,” Mr. Singh reaffirmed Fiji’s leadership in promoting regional capacity-building, modernisation, and collaboration. He called for a stronger, unified Pacific Customs voice to drive coordinated action, enhance regional security, and support sustainable economic growth in an evolving global environment.
The Oceania Customs Organisation remains a vital platform for regional cooperation, enabling Pacific nations to collectively address shared challenges and safeguard their borders in an increasingly complex global landscape. This conference serves as a critical opportunity to strengthen partnerships, align strategies, and reinforce a unified regional approach to Customs enforcement and trade facilitation. Its outcomes will play a pivotal role in shaping a more secure, connected, and resilient Pacific ensuring that Customs administrations are well-equipped to protect communities, support legitimate trade, and contribute to long-term economic stability and prosperity across the region.
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