TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
ASEAN Directorate-General of Immigration meet virtually, discussing regional cooperation
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
(Courtesy of Immigration Directorate General )
A
cting director of the Directorate-General of Immigration Widodo Ekatjahjana participated in the annual meeting of ASEAN Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs (DGICM) on Aug. 25 and 26.
This year’s meeting, held through videoconference, was led by H. E. Jaime H. Morente, Commissioner of the Philippine Immigration Bureau and was attended by heads of immigrations and Consular Affairs Divisions of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs (DGICM) across ASEAN and officials from the ASEAN Secretariat.
“Basically, the meeting discussed and coordinated regional cooperation in immigration and consular issues in the course of achieving the ASEAN Community’s development. The leadership is rotated according to the order of alphabet among the ASEAN member states,” said Widodo.
The series of DGICM program kicked off with the 4th ASEAN Heads of Major Immigration Checkpoints Forum (AMICF) and the 16th ASEAN Immigration Intelligence Forum (AIIF), held on Aug. 25.
Discussion in the 4th AMICF was focused on the mechanism of Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs), database on across border among ASEAN member states, communication channel development proposal, and initiative and programs under ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) and its implementation plan to be led by DGICM.
Meanwhile, the 16th AIIF discussed steps ahead for Plan of Action (PoA) for the implementation of Intelligence Data Sharing Protocol (IDSP) and Terms of Reference (ToR) ASEAN Immigration Intelligence Meeting (AIIM), and revamp a list of AIIF Contact Points and immigration’s Point of 24/7 Hotline Focus.
In the DGICM meeting, delegates of the ASEAN countries shared insights into national, regional and international efforts pertaining to immigration, consular and management of state territory borders amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Points produced in the discussion included:
- Implementation of Consular Assistance Guideline by State Mission in the Third Country of ASEAN to State Citizen from other ASEAN member countries
- Steps ahead for ASEAN Business Travel Card, ASEAN Visa Portal, and Establishment of ASEAN Immigration Focal Points to facilitate the return of Illegal Migrants to the Country of Origin.
- Implementation of ASEAN Lane in the main International Airport.
Widodo also said that on top of discussion related to immigration and consular issues, DGICM also opened a session with ASEAN Head of Specialists Anti-Trafficking Units (HSU) under Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC).
“The session discussed recommendations from ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) on the possibility of setting up Special Taskforce to investigate and eradicate human smuggling,” Widodo said.
In the final program, a delegate from Singapore expressed their readiness to host the coming DGICM in 2022.
