IN optimizing its duties and functions as a community protector, Customs continues to strengthen its supervisory cooperation with the Australian Border Force (ABF).
One concrete form of this cooperation is the holding of the 23rd Customs to Customs Talk (C to C Talk) which took place at the ABF Headquarters, Canberra and Melbourne, Australia, on 6-8 August 2024. Present at the meeting were the Director General of Customs and Excise and the ABF Commissioner and staff.
“The C to C Talk meeting is a high-level bilateral forum between the customs administrations of Indonesia and Australia which has been held in turns every year since May 11, 1993. At that time, Australia was the host,” said the Director of International Cooperation for Customs and Excise, Anita Iskandar.
In this meeting, both parties agreed to continue strengthening cooperation, especially in the field of comprehensive K-9 development and law enforcement through increasing information exchange and officer training.
At the 23rd C to C Talk, both parties also increased cooperation by signing the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) Authorized Economic Operator which accelerates the customs process for business actors and reduces cross-border trade barriers, in order to support faster, smoother, and more efficient trade.
In 2022-2023, Australia is one of Indonesia’s largest trading partners, with a total trade value reaching US$12,478.4 million in 2023.
Director General of Customs and Excise, Askolani, conveyed the many achievements obtained from this cooperation since last year.
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“The signed AEO MRA is a concrete proof of our commitment to enhance international trade facilitation between the two countries. This will also encourage greater efficiency and cooperation going forward for economic growth,” he said.
Currently, Indonesia has also signed the AEO MRA with Korea, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, and ASEAN.
In the series of activities, the delegates made working visits to several ABF facilities, namely the Australian Border Operations Centre (ABOC) and ABF College, to explore operational strategies and advanced training programs.
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Delegates also witnessed demonstrations of the Remote Operated Vehicle (Maritime Operations) showcasing cutting-edge technology in border security, the Melbourne Gateway Facility, the National Detector Dog Program Facility and Melbourne International Airport.
This working visit provided valuable insights into Australia’s customs infrastructure, as well as strengthening our shared commitment to improving border security, supply chains and trade facilitation.
Through synergy with ABF, Customs can further optimize its duties and functions as a protector of the community. The positive impact of this synergy has been felt both internally and externally.
In the future, it is hoped that cooperation between Customs and ABF can continue to be closely and continuously established, in line with changes in global trade conditions and border security that need to be addressed together. (RO/Z-3)
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