Edward Kieswetter, SARS Commissioner Elected Chairperson Of The World Customs Organisation
The Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Edward Kieswetter has been elected as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO). The election happened on the 24th June 2023 at the organisation’s Council session at the WCO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. With 185 members, the WCO has three-quarters of which are developing countries and
Edward-Kieswetter-SARS-Commissioner-Elected-Chairperson-Of-The-World-Customs-Organisation
The Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Edward Kieswetter has been elected as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO). The election happened on the 24th June 2023 at the organisation’s Council session at the WCO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
With 185 members, the WCO has three-quarters of which are developing countries and the Council is its highest decision-making body. Established in 1952 as the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC), WCO 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).
Kieswetter expressed appreciation to his colleagues who found him appropriately suitable to lead the WCO for a year. “leadership 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”. – he said.
Prior to the elections, the Policy Commission took place. The discussions at the Policy Commission included progress on WCO Customs technical programmes, emerging and new challenges plaguing the Customs world, and organisational development issues around governance as well modernisation of the WCO as a members-driven organisation.
With 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.
The Commissioner outlined the agenda that will inform his chairmanship, and that includes the below:
- Working closely with his colleagues and peers from member countries to listen actively and ensure that WCO’s strategic intent finds practical expression through an effective, well managed Secretariat, a transformational modernisation plan, an appropriate set of priorities, a clear sense of what winning means.
- Advocate for greater inclusivity with a strong focus on women and people with disabilities.
- Build resilient and effective partnerships with all stakeholders.
- Strive towards an enhanced profile of the important role of Customs in the service of society and ensuring the well-being especially of the most vulnerable.
Previously and the only other time the country chaired the WCO Council was between 2001 to 2006 under the leadership of the then Commissioner that was Pravin Gordhan.
Thanking the outgoing Secretary General, Dr Kunio Mikuriya and Chairman Mr. Ahmed Al-Khalifa, Commissioner Kieswetter expressed gratitude for their abled stewardship that drove so successfully the agenda of the organization.
The Policy Commission also elected Mr. Ian Sanders of the United State as the new Secretary-General of the WCO and he is set to start his term on 01 January 2024.
