{"id":1752,"date":"2023-06-26T09:22:42","date_gmt":"2023-06-26T07:22:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ezfreight.co.za\/index.php\/2023\/06\/26\/media-release-sars-commissioner-mr-edward-kieswetter-elected-chairperson-of-the-world-customs-organisation\/"},"modified":"2023-06-26T09:22:42","modified_gmt":"2023-06-26T07:22:42","slug":"media-release-sars-commissioner-mr-edward-kieswetter-elected-chairperson-of-the-world-customs-organisation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ezfreight.co.za\/index.php\/2023\/06\/26\/media-release-sars-commissioner-mr-edward-kieswetter-elected-chairperson-of-the-world-customs-organisation\/","title":{"rendered":"Media Release \u2013 SARS Commissioner Mr Edward Kieswetter elected Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation"},"content":{"rendered":"

26 June 2023 \u2013 The South African Revenue Service (SARS) welcomes the election of its Commissioner Mr. Edward Kieswetter as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO). The election took place on 24 June 2023 at the organisation\u2019s Council session at the WCO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.<\/p>\n

The WCO has 185 members, three-quarters of which are developing countries and the Council is its highest decision-making body. It was established in 1952 as the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC), is the only intergovernmental organisation exclusively focused on Customs matters and is recognised as the voice of the global Customs community. In 1994, the CCC adopted the working name of the World Customs Organization (WCO).<\/p>\n

In accepting the challenge to lead the WCO for a year, Mr. Kieswetter expressed appreciation to his colleagues, who found him appropriately suitable to lead such a prestigious body. He said that \u201cleadership is an inordinate responsibility and a rare privilege to assist international efforts to bring matters of Customs to the centre of international trade facilitation. This election is ample evidence that the leadership of SARS in matters of Customs is acknowledged after many years of State Capture\u201d.<\/p>\n

The elections were preceded by the Policy Commission. The discussions at the Policy Commission ranged from progress on WCO Customs technical programmes, emerging and new challenges plaguing the Customs world, and organisational development issues around governance and modernisation of the WCO as a members-driven organisation.<\/p>\n

Given the foregoing topical issues on the agenda currently, Commissioner Kieswetter sits at the pinnacle of a global stage to provide appropriate stewardship that will ensure that the WCO is fit for purpose and stays relevant in providing leadership and support to the global Customs community.<\/p>\n

Commissioner Kieswetter outlined the agenda that will inform his chairmanship as:<\/p>\n

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  1. Working with his colleagues and peers from member countries to listen actively and ensure that WCO\u2019s strategic intent finds practical expression through:\n