International Customs Day 2025 celebrated in Curacao
The World Customs Organization (WCO) has declared the 26th of January as 'International Customs Day' and this day is celebrated worldwide. Every year, the WCO chooses a theme. The WCO theme for 2025 focused on promoting efficiency, safety and prosperity. This theme emphasizes the crucial role of customs in optimizing trade flows, protecting society from illegal trade and contributing to economic growth and stability.
This year, International Customs Day was celebrated in Curaçao. Customs Caribbean Netherlands was also represented by a small delegation. Other customs organizations from Aruba, Suriname and the Netherlands also participated. In the run-up to the official celebration of Customs Day, various activities took place, such as meetings with speeches by, among others, the Minister of Finance of Curaçao, sports activities and excursions.
Next year, 2026, the Customs Caribbean Netherlands will have the honor of organizing the international Customs Day on Bonaire.
Customs Caribbean Netherlands is part of the Belastingdienst Caribisch Nederland (B/CN) and is mainly responsible for supervising the flow of goods to and from Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba and the levying of ABB upon import. As such, it is part of the Dutch Customs.