World customs body moves HQ from Brussels

World customs body moves HQ from Brussels

NUSA DUA, Bali (JP): The Netherlands, Germany and Morocco are vying to become the new headquarters of the World Customs Organization (WCO) now based in Brussels.

A senior executive of the organization, V.P.M. Strachan, said here yesterday that the potential sites were debated during the organization's four-day meeting, which was opened here on Monday.

"We have not decided where the headquarters should be relocated because other countries want to retain the office in Brussels," said Strachan, chairwoman of the meeting, which closes tomorrow.

The WCO wants to relocate its headquarters and restructure its organization to cope with its budget difficulties.

Strachan said that operational costs at the headquarters have been increasing due to high leasing costs in Brussels, which is home to a number of international bodies.

Participants at the meeting, which is also discussing the simplification of customs procedures among the organization's 140 member countries, will propose a resolution -- to relocate or to stay in Brussels -- at the WCO's council meeting in Hong Kong next June.

"The final approval whether or not we have to relocate the headquarters will be taken during next year's meeting," Strachan said.

The Bali meeting, which was opened by Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad, is being attended by the WCO's 27 policy commission members representing regional offices in North, Central and East Africa, Asia, Australia, the Pacific islands, North and South America as well as Europe.

Strachan said that the role of the WCO in international trade will remain important even amid the pressure to scrap all tariff and non-tariff barriers in the world.

In the globalization era, she said, the organization will likely turn its attention to illegal trade practices such as drug trafficking.(hen)