F. No. 21000/9/2011-Cus/ICD,
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
(Department of Revenue)
(Central Board of Excise and Customs)
(International Custom Division), New Delhi
Dated- 8th of December, 2011
Sub: International Customs Day Celebrations
International Customs Day is celebrated on 26th January every year all over the world. This being the Republic Day of India, it is celebrated in India on either the previous or next working day. It has been decided that the International Customs Day 2012 shall be celebrated on Friday, the 27th January, 2012.
2. The main function would be held at New Custom House, New Delhi. Chief Commissioner of Customs, Delhi is requested to organize the ‘International Customs Day’ function in New Delhi on this day. As part of the celebrations, members of the trade and office bearers of CHA Associations, senior level officers of the other departments associated with Customs and other stakeholders may also be invited to the function.
3. All the field formations are requested to celebrate International Customs Day on 27th January, 2012 in a suitable manner.
4. This year, the World Customs Organization (WCO) has decided to dedicate International Customs Day with the theme “Borders Divide; Customs Connect”. WCO has stated that Borders are synonymous with division and the main challenge for WCO Members is to find the best methods to increase connectivity, which refers to people-to-people, institutional, and information linkages that underpin and facilitate the achievement of Customs’ main goals: ensuring the smooth and lawful flow of goods, people and means of transport; and fighting efficiently against all types of fraud and crime that affect the legal economy and society in general.
4.1 Creating a Globally Networked Customs as envisaged in the WCO Customs in the 21st Century strategic vision, mutual recognition and cooperation protocols, single window developments, initiatives aimed at promoting the exchange of knowledge and ideas, as well as the promotion of shared values, fall within the 2012 International Customs Day theme.
5. On the occasion of the International Customs Day, Customs officers who have demonstrated commitment in their work towards connectivity would be awarded ‘WCO Certificate of Merit’. Representatives from business world and academic world may also be honoured for their contribution in connection with the above theme.
6. You may nominate suitable officers or representatives from the business world or the academic world, for the award of certificates, with their justification for nomination. The nomination (along with their vigilance clearance certificate in case of customs officers) should reach the Joint Secretary (Customs), CBEC by 27th December, 2012, so that their names can be considered for awarding the certificate. The nomination may also be sent by email jscus@nic.in and director@customs.gov.in.
7. Suggestions are also requested on measures that could be taken to propagate the theme of International Customs Day.
Yours faithfully,
(M. Satish Kumar Reddy)
Director (ICD)
