HUMAN trafficking, illicit financial flows, Customs fraud, environmental crimes and smuggling of prohibited goods will form part of discussions at the three-day 28th Annual Conference of Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) that begins in Nadi today.
Hosted by Fiji under its chairmanship of the OCO, the conference will bring together heads of Customs from 24 Pacific administrations, senior government officials, development partners and international organisations. At a time when the Pacific is facing increased pressures from transnational organised crime, the conference will focus on strengthening regional cooperation and building the capabilities needed to meet those challenges. OCO chairperson and FRCS chief executive officer Udit Singh said Customs administrations played a critical role in protecting communities while enabling economic development. “Customs today is far more than a border agency. We are guardians of our communities, facilitators of trade, protectors of government revenue, and partners in economic growth,” Mr Singh said in a statement. “The work of Customs directly impacts the prosperity, safety and resilience of our Pacific nations.” He said while Pacific nations may be geographically dispersed, they faced many common challenges that required collective action.
“The scale and complexity of modern border threats mean that no country can address these issues alone. Regional cooperation is essential. When one Pacific border is strengthened, the entire region becomes safer and more secure.” Mr Singh said the Pacific occupied an increasingly important position within global trade and transport networks, making effective Customs administrations critical to both regional and international security.
“The Pacific sits at the crossroads of major maritime and aviation routes connecting Asia, Australasia, and the Americas. Strong Customs administrations help protect these trade corridors while ensuring legitimate goods, travellers, and investment continue to move efficiently across our region.” The conference will feature contributions from international partners, including the World Customs Organization, United Nations, World Bank, and other regional stakeholders.
Discussions will also focus on border security, maritime enforcement, trade facilitation, passenger processing, digital transformation, leadership development, and strengthening intelligence-sharing arrangements across the Pacific. The conference – themed ‘Scaling up the commitment of Customs to protect and grow our Pasifika communities’ – will be held at the Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa from June 2-4.
