New world customs body chief aims to reflect emerging nations' voice

TOKYO, July 1 Kyodo - Kunio Mikuriya, who was elected to the top post of the Brussels-based World Customs Organization on Saturday, said Monday that he aims to reflect the voice
of emerging economies in the policies of the 173-member entity.

The 54-year-old former Japanese Finance Ministry official said in an interview
with Kyodo News, ''Since the WCO is based in Europe, it tends to more often
represent European viewpoints, but I'd like to reflect the voices of Asia,
Africa and Latin America which hope to achieve economic development through
trade.''

Mikuriya, who has been serving as WCO deputy secretary general since 2002, will
be the first Asian chief of the body that promotes harmonization of customs
procedures worldwide, when he assumes the top post for a five-year term next
January.

Referring to the increased trade between the developed nations and such
fast-rising Asian economies as China and India, Mikuriya said the WCO is
expected to function as ''a bridge to Asia'' from the rest of the world.

He said the WCO is tasked with assisting the establishment of a smooth supply
chain by harmonizing and simplifying customs procedures through the use of
information technology.
The customs body is also required to strengthen control of illegally copied and
counterfeit goods which are often exported from Asia, and also to crack down on
unsafe food and environmentally hazardous materials, he added.
Mikuriya will succeed Secretary General Michel Danet of France, whose term will
expire at the end of this year. He beat eight other candidates from Senegal,
Belgium, Sweden, France, Finland, Britain, the Netherlands and China in the
election.