29-8-2023 (JAKARTA) Customs officials from Malaysia and Indonesia recently convened in Medan, North Sumatra, to engage in a comprehensive review of past efforts, tackle shared challenges, and lay the foundation for future collaborations aimed at enhancing cross-border trade.
The Malaysian delegation, led by Datuk Zazuli Johan, the director-general of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, joined hands with their Indonesian counterparts, led by Askolani, the director-general of the Directorate-General of Customs and Excise (DGCE).
In the 19th bilateral meeting, both agencies addressed the imperative of streamlining customs procedures with the goal of bolstering regulatory frameworks, combatting violations, and facilitating smoother trade processes.
The discussions encompassed a wide array of customs, supervision, and excise topics, including good governance practices, capacity-building initiatives, enforcement strategies, and the oversight of narcotics-related activities.
Special attention was given to the Coordinated Customs Patrol Indonesia-Malaysia, known as Patkor Kastima, and the Joint Task Force on Narcotics during these deliberations, as outlined in a statement by DGCE.
The exchange of data and information concerning customs and excise laboratories was also on the agenda, with the Malaysian Customs expressing interest in establishing a similar laboratory.
As part of this ongoing bilateral meeting series, a study visit to the Medan Class II Customs and Excise Laboratory was conducted, further strengthening the ties between the two nations in their pursuit of more efficient cross-border trade.