Cairo, Feb 23 (Petra) – Jordan presided over the regional meeting of customs directors for North Africa, the Near, and Middle East, organized by the General Secretariat of the Arab League in Cairo. The meeting was held in collaboration with the Jordanian Customs Department and the World Customs Organization (WCO).

The session, chaired by Director-General of Jordanian Customs, Major General Ahmad Akalik, brought together heads and directors of customs authorities from across the region. Discussions centered on strategic customs priorities, progress reports from specialized regional bodies, and key policy updates.

Among the main topics covered were a summary of the WCO Policy Commission’s work, reports from the Regional Office for Capacity Building and the Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices in Morocco and Riyadh, as well as the 2025-2028 strategic plan of the WCO.

Speaking to the Jordan News Agency (Petra) on the sidelines of the meeting, Akalik highlighted Jordan’s leadership role and strong regional and international reputation in customs administration. He emphasized that Jordan serves as the WCO’s regional representative and that its Director-General holds the position of WCO Vice-Chair for the North Africa, Near, and Middle East region, which comprises 18 countries.

Akalik underscored the importance of the WCO’s strategic plan, which aligns with the priorities of its six global regions, including the North Africa, Near, and Middle East bloc. He noted shared regional challenges requiring collective efforts, particularly in managing fragile borders, handling customs operations during crises and conflicts, and addressing the rapid growth of e-commerce, which has become a significant factor in global trade.

For his part, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Economic Affairs Sector at the Arab League, Ambassador Ali bin Ibrahim Al Maliki, pointed to the theme of World Customs Day 2025 “Customs: Delivering Commitment to Efficiency, Security, and Prosperity” stating that it will have a positive impact on guiding customs authorities toward measures that support these objectives. He emphasized that customs operations are a fundamental pillar of national economies.

//Petra// AF
23/02/2025 20:22:29