Closer links with India will strengthen Australian borders

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 09/11/2014 - 16:03

Thursday, 11 September 2014

Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon. Scott Morrison, today congratulated the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS), Mr Michael Pezzullo, on a successful visit to India.

During a productive visit Mr Pezzullo co-chaired the inaugural Australia-India Customs Working Group, which discussed upcoming changes to Australian border protection arrangements, the possibility of officer exchanges and shared training opportunities, and enhanced cooperation on trade facilitation, to benefit industry.

Mr Pezzullo also met with key counterparts from the Indian Coast Guard, the Narcotics Control Bureau, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. While at India's National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics, Mr Pezzullo was honoured to give a speech to a cohort of trainees.

The CEO also participated in discussions on maritime security with relevant Indian agencies and briefed the Australian/New Zealand and Indian Business Association on the development of Australia's Trusted Trader Program.

Minister Morrison said he appreciated the cooperation of the Indian government on a number of key initiatives.

'Increasing our cooperation with India is an important part of Australia's border protection strategy and complement our efforts to foster lawful trade and travel,' Minister Morrison said.

'By working closely with India we build a common understanding of the risks, challenges and opportunities we both face in the region.'

'Importantly, sharing information and experience allows us to work together to close the net on transnational crime networks seeking to circumvent regional border controls.'

The CEO was in India from Monday, 8 September to Wednesday, 10 September 2014.

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URL:http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/sm/2014/sm217771.htm
Last update: Thursday, 11 September 2014 at 16:28 AEST

Article references
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