Background
As chair and host, Cambodia convened the 35th Meeting of the ASEAN Directors-General of Customs on 2 June 2026 at Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh. Cambodia hosted the 35th Meeting of the ASEAN Directors-General of Customs on 2 June 2026 at Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh as chair of the meeting.
The meeting agenda focused on customs modernization and regional trade facilitation aligned with the ASEAN Economic Community strategic plan 2026–2030 and the ASEAN Customs Development Strategy 2026–2030. ASEAN customs cooperation includes mechanisms such as Authorized Economic Operator mutual recognition (AEO-MRA) and the ASEAN Customs Transit System (ASEAN ACTS) to facilitate cross-border trade.
Key Developments
Senior customs leaders and representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat attended in person, with the Thai customs administration participating online. Azizil Hakim Brahim, Director-General of Brunei Customs and outgoing chair of the 34th meeting, thanked Cambodia for its welcome and reported on progress achieved under his chairmanship.
During opening remarks, Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Oun Pornmoniroth, set out five priority directions for ASEAN customs cooperation: (1) promote digital integration including full implementation of national single-window systems under the 2026–2030 roadmap; (2) expand mutual recognition of AEO programs (AEO-MRA) among ASEAN partners; (3) strengthen regional transport connectivity and broader adoption of ASEAN ACTS for cross-border trade; (4) enhance customs law-enforcement cooperation through timely information sharing and joint operations; and (5) invest in human resources and institutional capacity development for customs administrations.
The Directors-General also held separate consultations with the World Customs Organization, and customs administrations of Australia, China, Japan and Korea. Parallel discussions engaged private-sector bodies including ABAC, EU-ABC and US-ABC to bolster public–private cooperation on trade facilitation.
Policy Context
Customs administrations in ASEAN implement trade-facilitation measures that aim to reduce border friction and improve supply-chain predictability for exporters and importers. Digital single-window systems and authorized-trader programs are institutional tools used to accelerate clearances, lower compliance costs, and support regional economic integration.
ASEAN-level strategic plans provide a multi-year framework for coordinating national reforms across member states, making Directors-General meetings a regular forum to align operational priorities and technical initiatives across administrations.
Institutional Role
The ASEAN Directors-General of Customs meeting functions as a senior-level coordination forum where member administrations exchange operational updates, propose common initiatives, and consult with international and private-sector partners. Hosting duties rotate among members and the host administration typically sets priorities for collaborative workstreams and technical cooperation during its chairmanship.
Implications for Trade and Investors
Proposed emphasis on AEO-MRA, ASEAN ACTS and national single-window rollout signals a regional push toward faster clearance and more predictable cross-border logistics. Businesses and investors should expect continued technical coordination among customs administrations aimed at harmonising procedures and expanding recognition of trusted-trader programs.
Source
Official announcement and meeting summary published by the General Department of Customs and Excise, Kingdom of Cambodia (source: Department Facebook post).
