SINGAPORE, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- As the world becomes more globalized, customs needs to increase cooperation with overseas authorities on enforcement matters and trade facilitation, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Friday.

    Speaking at Singapore Customs' 100th Anniversary Celebration, Lee urged the Singapore Customs to look beyond border security to consider the global supply chain, and work with like-minded international partners to keep it safe.

    "Customs has an important role to establish Singapore as a secure and trusted node in the global supply chain, so that others will want to trade with us," Lee said.

    He added that amidst a changing trading landscape, customs must maintain a balanced and enlightened approach.

    He said that trading patterns are growing in complexity. Shipments nowadays travel to and from multiple locations and change hands several times along the way. While this increasing complexity creates new risks for Customs, the department should maintain a light regulatory hand.

    Lee said the best way to fulfil both its facilitation and regulation roles is to work in partnership with the business community. In this way, Customs can keep abreast of new developments, and develop effective yet unobtrusive ways to reduce risks. It should also continue to simplify Customs rules, improve services and integrate requirements across government agencies.

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