SARS Commissioner Kieswetter Re-Elects as WCO Chairperson for Second Term

Kieswetter also underscored the importance of ensuring that the WCO Secretariat is equipped to serve the needs of customs administrations worldwide.

The highest decision-making body of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the WCO Council, has re-elected Edward Kieswetter, Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), as its Chairperson for a second term, extending his leadership through 2024 - 2025.

Following his re-election, Kieswetter highlighted the increasing importance of the WCO amidst technological and big data innovations, the growth of eCommerce, and global geopolitical uncertainties. “The key objectives of the WCO and all its member countries are to promote legitimate trade, prevent trade in illicit and harmful goods, and ensure the safe movement of goods and travellers across the borders that divide the world,” Kieswetter stated on Sunday.

He emphasized the unifying role of customs in contrast to the divisive nature of borders, urging the customs community to work towards a transformative goal that enhances economic and social well-being for all citizens of member states. “It is an honor to be entrusted once again with the transformative leadership of such a vital organization as the WCO in these turbulent times,” he said.

Kieswetter also underscored the importance of ensuring that the WCO Secretariat is equipped to serve the needs of customs administrations worldwide. “Central to the role of the WCO Chair is to ensure that the WCO Secretariat has both the capacity and the orientation to serve the needs of customs administrations around the world,” he concluded.