THE growth of e-commerce and surge in Pacific islanders’ use of online shopping have created challenges for customs administrations across the region in balancing efficient service delivery while maintaining appropriate safeguards.
In response, the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) – the regional body for customs administrations in the Pacific, and the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU) held a five-day workshop for customs officials from 16 Pacific countries, including Fiji.
It aimed to help customs officials understand World Customs Organization (WCO) tools and initiatives aimed at facilitating and securing cross-border e-commerce.
PACER Plus Head of Secretariat Roy Lagolago said the workshop directly supported its mission to enhance economic integration and sustainable development in the Pacific through PACER Plus.
“While customs administrations address the regularly aspects, PACER Plus is also focussed on helping parties to enhance legislative framework on e-commerce and support Pacific businesses seize the opportunities of digital trade,” Mr Lagolago said in the statement from OCO.
“We are helping customs officers understand both sides of e-commerce, thereby creating pathways for Pacific products to reach global markets while maintaining appropriate safeguards.”
OCO Head of Secretariat Nancy T Oraka said their primary concern as customs officials was implementing international standards that facilitated legitimate trade while protecting the borders.
Customs officials learnt of advanced processing systems to manage the surge in small consignments, along with targeted risk assessment methods to quickly spot potentially dangerous or illegal shipments while keeping legitimate goods flowing smoothly.
They learnt new strategies for applying effective, efficient, scalable and flexible revenue collection models for imports of low-value and small shipments, while considering specific national circumstances that is one of the cross-border e-commerce challenges facing Pacific nations today.
“As our digital economy continues to growth, customs administrations must evolve to facilitate legitimate trade while addressing emerging risks,” Ms Oraka said.
The inaugural workshop held in Nadi this week – co-facilitated by Japan Customs experts – were attended by 25 officials from Fiji, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Northern Marianas, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Niue, Nauru, Samoa, Solomon Is, New Caledonia, Guam, Tonga and Tuvalu.
