Mr. Michael Outram, ABF Commissioner

How do you assess on the cooperative relationship between ABF and GDVC?

I am very happy to be in Hanoi with my colleagues and have a working session with Vietnam Customs.

I think that the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Australia in general and between ABF and GDVC in particular has strongly developed.

Leaders of Vietnam and Australia have signed a comprehensive strategic partnership to promote bilateral cooperation, including the development of trade in goods and movement of people of the two countries.

Through the meeting, I realized that ABF and GDVC have similarities related to the anti-smuggling, anti-drugs... or the need to expedite the trade between Vietnam and Australia.

Motivated by advantages, I think that there will have potential for cooperation between the two sides. Through the meeting, I hope to continue promoting cooperation between the two Customs administrations in the coming years.

In your opinion, what are the key advantages in the relationship between ABF and GDVC and how have these advantages contributed to achieve common goals?

Firstly, ABF and GDVC focus on trade facilitation. The two sides recognize that the main purpose of the border protection is to serve economic activities and security. Because economic security plays an important role in the economies of the two countries.

Over the past time, the two sides recognize that trade activities and movement of people between the two nations increasingly develop. We also know that besides legitimate trade, the smuggling and illegal transportation of goods still take place.

I think that the two sides have similar approaches in responding to those issues, through using information and data, identifying risks, improving capacity for officers and building leadership team.

The similarities are the strengths of the partnership, including the sharing similar problem-solving approach

What do you hope for the cooperative relationship between ABF and GDVC, and what plans do you have to strengthen and deepen this relationship in the near future?

At the meeting, the two sides agreed to formalize the high-level bilateral meeting mechanism between my successor at ABF and the head of Vietnam Customs in the future.

I believe that specific action and work plans will be provided in the following meetings. The two sides commit to working together on issues such as identifying risks, sharing information and capacity building.

In addition, the two sides will also continue to cooperate within the multilateral framework in the World Customs Organization (WCO), the Asia-Pacific region, or ASEAN, of which Australia is a dialogue partner.

Thank you, Sir!