Ministry of Finance of State of Japan : Nomination of Dr. Kunio Mikuriya as a candidate for the election of Secretary General of the WCO

• The Japan Customs notify the fact that the Japanese Government has decided to nominate Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, the current Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), as a candidate to be reappointed for the election of the Secretary General of the WCO to be held in June 2018.

• The WCO, with over 180 members, is an international organization aiming to harmonize and unify Customs procedures and to promote international cooperation. The WCO, as the only intergovernmental organization on Customs matters, has been making a significant contribution to the development of global trade and economy through ensuring security and facilitation in international trade and promoting Customs cooperation.

• Dr. Mikuriya has exercised his outstanding capabilities and leadership since he assumed the office of Secretary General in 2009. His achievements are highly appreciated by the members of the WCO as well as other international organizations. We firmly believe that Dr. Mikuriya has the qualified experiences and capabilities and remains the best person to be the ideal navigator for the WCO in this ever-changing world.

• The next Secretary General of the WCO will be elected at the WCO Council Session in June 2018 after the closing of the filing for candidacy on 31 March 2018. Japan will ask all WCO members for their support for Dr. Mikuriya toward his reappointment as the Secretary General.