TEKS UCAPAN TIMBALAN KETUA PENGARAH KASTAM (PENGUATKUASAAN / PEMATUHAN)
Majlis : 12TH MEETING OF THE ASW WG ON TECHNICAL MATTERS AND 9TH MEETING OF ASW EXPERT WORKING GROUP
Tarikh : 23 – 27 MAC 2010
Tempat : PULLMAN HOTEL, KUCHING SARAWAK

Good Morning. Welcome and Selamat Datang to Kuching (cat city), the capital city of Sarawak, Land of the Hornbill.

2. Thank you for choosing Kuching for the 12th ASW TWG Meeting. I hope delegates who before this never had the opportunity to visit Kuching will take some time off to explore what this small but vibrant city has to offer.

3. The role of technology in enhancing the effectiveness of government service delivery system and reducing the cost of doing business need not be further emphasized. For this very reason, many developing economies in the ASEAN region have embraced technology as part of its government transformation plan to help improve quality of service and reduce costs.

4. During the 60th Policy Commission Meeting in Buenos Aires in Dec 2008, the WCO launched the Customs 21st Century (C21C) policy document. Out of 10 building blocks for C21C, two deals with technology: that is, “Enabling Technology and Tools” and “Globally Networked Customs” which is to be technology-driven.

5. At the ASEAN level, the concept of single window approach to facilitate trade in the region has been on the agenda for more than 5 years. Based on the recommendation by the High Level Task Force, the need to develop an electronic system to process trade documents through e-ASEAN was incorporated in the Bali Concord II 2003. This need for a single window approach was further reiterated in the Vientiane Action Plan (2004-2010) and clearly defined in the Strategic Plans for Customs Development (SPCD) as well as the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint. All these reflect the foresight and farsightedness of our ASEAN leaders in attaching great importance to technology and for thinking well ahead of the C21C policy document.

6. There are formal definitions of what constitutes ASEAN Single Window. I choose to view ASW simply as an electronic environment that provide a platform for exchange of trade and customs related data to enable faster customs clearance and a more seamless flow of goods. Generally, the establishment of ASW and an integrated ASEAN e-Customs Community would in the context of trade facilitation enable our region to maintain economic competitiveness through savings in transaction costs. As an ICT System, ASW is not an end in itself but an enabler to be utilized for mutual economic benefits of member states.

7. I must record here my appreciation and congratulation to the Philippines Bureau of Customs for stewardship in the ASW Steering Committee as well as the Legal Working Group. Not forgetting also the leadership provided by Royal Malaysian Customs Department for chairing the ASW TWG meeting since year 2007. Work done and progress achieved so far by the Steering Committee and Working Groups under both customs administrations are acknowledged and appreciated by our leaders.

8. Records show that the ASW TWG has accomplished several deliverables. These include among others the CEPT User Application; the ASW Exchange Gateway for technical testing and the ASEAN Data Model Ver. 2.0. Work programs currently in the pipeline include the Technical Proposal for Information Exchange between ASEAN Member States under the ASW Pilot Project; the ASEAN Customs Declaration Document Application and the ASW website and portal.

9. In its efforts to accomplish the agreed work programs, the TWG certainly has encountered numerous problems and challenges. For example, consensus building in itself requires compromise, understanding and certain degree of tolerance in trying to find the best-fit solutions agreeable to all member states. Some of the current outstanding areas of concern among members include issues pertaining to data confidentiality and security; hosting of central server; operation and maintenance cost and responsibilities/membership of the Regional and National Management Team.

10. Although the trial run on a pilot basis between Indonesia and Malaysia has proven to be successful, the vision to create a fully functional ASW and an integrated ASEAN e-Customs Community has yet to be realized. I hope that the TWG can adhere to the work plans to accelerate the completion of the NSW Project. Besides, I wish to urge some member states to expedite the establishment of NSWs to facilitate interface and integration with ASW.

11. It is perhaps relevant for me to inform delegates that 2nd AEC Council Meeting at Cha-am Hua Hin, Thailand last October 2009 took note of the report by Malaysia as Chair of the 18th ASEAN Customs Directors General on latest development of ASW and NSWs. I hope member states also take note of the clarification by the Chair of ASW Steering Committee to provide common understanding on the concept of federated approach so as to avoid any further confusion.

12. I believe that delegates present today not only have the necessary competence but also bring along wealth of experience in the field of technology and e-systems. With good leadership and guidance from the Chair Person and support as well as understanding from delegates, I am confident that you will have a very fruitful deliberation and accomplish significant work progress in accordance with the agreed time lines.

13. On that note of advise, I hereby declare that the 12th Meeting of the ASEAN Single Window Working Group on Technical Matters officially open.

Thank you