The highest decision-making body of the World Customs Organisation, the WCO Council, has re-elected the South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter as its Chairperson for a second term.

Following his re-election (2024 – 2025), Kieswetter said the WCO is becoming ever more important, given the technological and big data innovations that facilitate trade, the growth of eCommerce, as well as global uncertainties taking place in the geo-political landscape.

‘The key objectives of the WCO and all its member countries is to promote legitimate trade, to prevent trade in illicit and harmful goods, and ensure the safe movement of goods and travellers across the borders that divide the world.

‘It is known that customs unites, whereas borders divide. But the unity amongst the customs community must be directed towards a common transformative goal that brings economic and social well-being to all citizens of member States,’ Kieswetter said on Sunday.

He said it was an honour that he was once a
gain entrusted to provide this transformative leadership of such a vital organisation as the WCO in the prevailing turbulent times.

‘Central to the role of the WCO Chair is to ensure that the WCO Secretariat has both the capacity as well as the orientation to serve the needs of customs administrations around the world,’ the Commissioner said.

Source: South African Government News Agency