As global trade accelerates through digital transformation, customs authorities worldwide face increasing pressure to enhance their operational efficiency and transparency. The World Customs Organization (WCO) Capacity Building Committee (CBC) convened its fourth meeting in Brussels from February 25-27, 2013, bringing together customs experts, government representatives, and private sector stakeholders to address these critical challenges.
Leadership and Strategic Direction
The assembly unanimously reelected Chris Henderson (Canada) as CBC Chair and Sun Xiangyang (China) as Vice Chair, recognizing their contributions to customs capacity building. WCO Secretary General emphasized in his opening remarks that capacity development remains fundamental to achieving the organization's strategic objectives.
The Capacity Building Director outlined the three-phase approach to customs organizational development: diagnostic assessment, strategic planning with change implementation, and monitoring/evaluation. The committee endorsed WCO's Organizational Development Plan (ODP) while inviting member feedback before its submission to policy bodies.
From Strategy to Implementation
A panel discussion titled "The Urgency of Action: From Strategic Planning to Implementation" featured insights from customs leaders in Togo, Chile, and Angola. Togo Customs Director Koko S-T Adze, Chile's National Customs Director Rodolfo Alvarez Rappaport, and Angola Customs Office Director Leonor Pimenta shared modernization experiences, highlighting the essential role of political will, leadership autonomy, private sector engagement, and accountability mechanisms.
Performance Measurement and Donor Engagement
Participants reviewed progress on WCO's Capacity Building Development Compendium, particularly its organizational performance assessment framework. Representatives from World Bank, Uruguay Customs, Inter-American Development Bank, IMF, and WCO Secretariat emphasized the organization's leadership role in developing standardized evaluation methodologies.
The committee examined successful Phase III Columbus Program missions in Belarus, Maldives, and UAE while approving updated implementation guidelines. Discussions on donor participation stressed the importance of aligning projects with strategic objectives and ensuring long-term engagement through regional donor conferences.
Gender Equality in Customs Leadership
Josephine Feehily, Chair of Ireland's Revenue Commissioners and WCO Council, challenged attendees to pursue gender equality as both a moral imperative and organizational necessity. Argentina Customs Director María Siomara Ayerán highlighted constitutional safeguards and policy measures advancing women's participation in her country's modernization efforts.
The committee noted growing interest in gender-focused capacity building programs and agreed to develop updated recommendations for WCO's June 2013 policy meetings.
Regional Cooperation and Professional Standards
Andreia Paz of ROCB Americas and Caribbean region reported on regional capacity building coordination. The committee endorsed the PICARD 2020 Strategy and revised guidelines for customs education programs while tasking the secretariat with developing research coordination policies.
OECD's Evdokia Moise presented findings on trade facilitation implementation costs, underscoring the economic benefits of streamlined customs procedures.
Looking Ahead
The committee elected Hernani Checo (Brazil) as next CBC Chair and Beatrice Memo (Kenya) as Vice Chair, scheduling the next meeting for March-April 2014 in Brussels. This gathering reinforced WCO's central role in advancing global customs modernization through collaborative capacity building initiatives.