Bandar Seri Begawan - Officials from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines met yesterday during the opening ceremony of the 3rd BIMP-EAGA Head of Customs Meeting at Rizqun International Hotel yesterday.

The Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Hj Hisham bin Hj Hanifah, who officiated yesterday's ceremony, touched on how regional and global trade could be further enhanced within the BIMPEAGA area by formulating and simplifying customs procedures.

"These challenges and opportunities require bold, proactive and innovative responses," the Acting Permanent Secretary said, adding that it is for this reason that an effective customs network has to be in place.

"This will enable the customs to protect the financial and economical interest of the state, as well as protecting society as a whole."

Brunei's Acting Controller of Customs, Yahya Hj Idris, is confident that the meeting would achieve positive outcomes that will contribute to BIMP-EAGA's goals of increasing trade, tourism and investment ultimately by facilitating the free movement of people goods and services.

"In order to do this, we have to strengthen the information exchanges for effective and efficient delivery of goods and services to our customers," Yahya said. "I'm happy to note that the corporate initiatives are continuing, especially on simplifying and streamlining customs procedures."

Also in attendance during yesterday's opening ceremony were BIMP-EAGA CIQS Task Force Chairman, Jairus D Paguntalan, and the Deputy Commissioner of Philippines Bureau of Customs.

The 2nd BIMP-EAGA Heads of Customs Meeting, which was held in August last year, also focused on similar topics such as streamlining and simplifying Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security (CIQS) procedures. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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