South Africa’s Tax Commissioner Elected Chairperson of WCO

At the recent World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council session, in Brussels, Edward Kieswetter, Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), was elected as chairperson of the Council, replacing Shaikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Director General of Bahrain Customs.

The Council session saw the participation of heads of customs representing the WCO’s 185 members, three quarters of which are developing countries. The discussions covered international standards, guidance documents, and recommended practices developed by the different WCO working bodies, with a view to enhancing the management of cross-border trade.

In accepting the challenge to lead the WCO for a year, Mr Kieswetter expressed appreciation to his colleagues, who found him suitable to head up such a prestigious body. He said that ‘leadership is an inordinate responsibility and a rare privilege to assist international efforts to bring matters of customs to the centre of international trade facilitation. This election is ample evidence that the leadership of SARS in matters of customs is acknowledged after many years of state capture’.