23rd DGICM: Greater Cooperation On Immigration Matters

23rd Meeting of ASEAN Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs (DGICM), the 3rd ASEAN Head of Major Immigration Checkpoints Forum (AMICF), 15th ASEAN Immigration Intelligence Forum (AIIF) and 15th DGICM+Australia Consultation (DGICM+Australia) took place in Nay Pyi Taw, Tuesday.

The 23rd meeting of DGICM is one of the meetings of ASEAN sectorial bodies. Reflecting to the establishment of DGICM, it has been committed to the need of greater cooperation during ASEAN Immigration Officials meeting held on 15th August 1996 in Jakarta, Indonesia. ASEAN Directors- General of Immigration Department and the Heads of Consular Divisions of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs (23rd DGICM) recognized the urgent needs for greater cooperation on Immigration matters.

Plan of Action (PoA) for strengthening cooperation in immigration matters and consular affairs was adopted in the 4th DGICM in the year 2000.

During the 17th DGICM meeting in Vietnam, 2013, the meeting determined to continue discussion on the draft PoA proposed by ASEAN Secretariat. In the 18th DGICM meeting in Brunei, 2014, Malaysia discussed the fact that reviewing recent PoA may take a long time, accelerating cooperation an implementing PoA by holding training, workshop and short training.

Working Group Meting including ASEAN  Member States was held during the 22nd DGICM meeting in Malaysia, 2018 and the Draft New ASEAN PoA was circulated to the ASEAN Member States. This meeting would enhance cooperation among Member States and have opportunities to coordinate among ASEAN Member States.