The WCO relaunched its Leadership Development Programme, aiming to enhance the leadership and management capabilities of customs officials. This initiative addresses international trade challenges and promotes customs modernization. Sixteen countries have benefited from the program. The WCO expresses gratitude to China, Japan, and Korea for their financial contributions and support.
WCO, in collaboration with the Belgian Customs Academy, provides training to African customs officials to enhance their capabilities. Recently, officials visited the WCO headquarters to deepen cooperation, focusing on areas such as digital transformation. This partnership aims to strengthen customs administration in Africa and facilitate trade by building a skilled workforce and promoting modern practices. The collaboration underscores the WCO's commitment to supporting Africa's development through effective customs management and capacity building initiatives.
This paper analyzes a capacity-building program for Francophone African customs officials, a collaboration between the Belgian Customs Academy and the World Customs Organization. The program, employing methods like curriculum supplementation, field visits, and virtual reality training, aims to enhance the professional skills of African customs officials and their ability to navigate complex trade environments. The article highlights the importance of regional cooperation, localized application, technological innovation, and evaluation mechanisms in capacity building. It also provides relevant recommendations for improving future programs.
With the support of SECO-WCO GTFP, Colombian Customs hosted a trade facilitation forum. The forum focused on the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, shared experiences from Abu Dhabi's customs reform, and explored the impact of disruptive technologies on the future of customs. The goal was to support DIAN's customs transformation, creating an efficient, transparent, and modern customs system. Ultimately, this initiative aims to promote trade development in Colombia by streamlining processes and embracing innovation within the customs framework.
The film 'Nothing to Declare' humorously depicts Franco-Belgian customs cooperation, highlighting the importance of international customs cooperation in facilitating trade, combating smuggling, and maintaining security. This article delves into the specific manifestations of customs cooperation, the challenges it faces, and its future development directions. It emphasizes the crucial role of customs cooperation in the era of globalization, showcasing how collaborative efforts between customs administrations benefit international trade and security.
Saudi Customs won the National E-Government Achievement Award for its "Customs Integration System," demonstrating its outstanding achievements in digital transformation. This system contributes to Saudi Arabia's economic development by improving customs clearance efficiency, strengthening supervision, optimizing service experience, and promoting trade facilitation. In the future, Saudi Customs will continue to explore new technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things to create a more efficient, convenient, and intelligent customs environment.
On International Women's Day 2025, the World Customs Organization (WCO) highlights its 'Women in Customs' initiative, emphasizing the vital role of women in the customs domain. By showcasing exemplary female figures, the WCO aims to promote gender equality and diversity. Initiatives like the 'Customs Gender Equality and Diversity Framework' are being introduced to foster a fairer, more inclusive, and efficient customs administration system. The WCO is committed to building a future where women can thrive and contribute fully to the success of customs worldwide.
Data from Qingdao Customs shows a significant improvement in customs clearance efficiency for foreign trade enterprises dealing with South Korea, with sea freight times reduced by 34.78% and air freight times increased by 71.43%. This progress is driven by policy benefits and technological innovation, particularly the AEO mutual recognition policy and the consolidated tax reform. Additionally, modern technologies such as the Internet of Things have greatly enhanced customs efficiency, significantly lowering business costs.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) is shaping the future of global trade for 2022-2025 through strategic foresight. Leveraging regional workshops, the WCO gathers insights from its members to explore emerging trends, risks, and opportunities. The methodology and key elements of strategic foresight, contributions from the OECD and the EU, and the future global vision and actions are all contributing to shaping the future of customs. This proactive approach aims to equip customs administrations to navigate the evolving landscape of international commerce and ensure effective border management in a dynamic world.
The first phase of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Scholarship Programme's 83rd edition has successfully concluded. Participants' research will contribute to customs modernization. The WCO Secretary General encouraged the scholars to share their practical experiences and praised them as "the future of customs." This program aims to cultivate customs elites with a global perspective and innovative spirit, contributing to the development of global trade. It focuses on building capacity and fostering collaboration within the international customs community.
