Kazakhstan Participates in the Annual Sessions of the World Customs Organization Council

       Brussels, 26–28 June 2025 — The delegation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, headed by Mr. Zhandos Duisembiyev, Chairman of the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance, took part in the annual 145th/146th Sessions of the Council of the World Customs Organization (WCO), the Organization’s highest decision-making body, bringing together 186 Member States.

       Held at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels, the Council meeting was a key event of the year, where strategic decisions were adopted to guide the future development of the Organization and the global Customs community. Kazakhstan actively contributed to discussions on key areas of work, including e-commerce, Customs performance measurement, the new capacity building paradigm, and the endorsement of the WCO Strategic Plan 2025–2028.

       The sessions opened with a keynote address by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization. Expert panels and discussions on WCO’s ongoing initiatives were also held. Brazil was announced as the winner of the annual photo competition, and the new Chairperson of the Council was elected — Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service.

       A key milestone for Kazakhstan was the conclusion of its mandate as a member of the WCO Policy Commission for 2023–2025. Following the current Council sessions, Kazakhstan was elected to the WCO Finance Committee for 2025–2026. This reflects the country’s active role in international Customs bodies and its commitment to contributing to effective governance within the Organization.

       Amid growing instability in international trade, the WCO reaffirmed its vital role in supporting resilient and effective Customs administration. Kazakhstan reiterated its readiness to continue contributing to the global Customs agenda and to support the development of sustainable, secure, and digital trade corridors.