2018 WCO IT Conference and Exhibition
6-8 June, 2018
Lima, Peru
Building a reliable digital landscape to boost cross-border trade
The WCO theme for 2018 calls on the Organization’s membership to explore how Customs can contribute to better securing the business environment and, in so doing, boost economic prosperity. Hence, the 2018 WCO IT Conference (ITC) aims to explore how information technologies can support such a process.
Customs and other border agencies today are faced with multiple challenges requiring a great deal of adaptability and resilience. Offenders attempt to abuse vulnerable supply chains to smuggle numerous commodities which pose threats to the safety and security of citizens. This is visible in all modes of transport.
Furthermore, the overwhelming quantity of E-commerce parcels, increasing by the day, is raising uncertainties in governments regarding their capacity to enforce legislation and prevent revenue leakage, IPR infringements, drug smuggling, terrorist attacks and other risks. This is due mainly to the unavailability of data, poor data quality, and limited knowledge of the large number of new, small operators in the E-Commerce supply chain.
Information technologies provide opportunities to enhance human capacities in terms of identifying high-risk goods and ensuring facilitation and a secure environment to boost legitimate cross-border trade. This is especially relevant with the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement in place, and the deadlines running towards its full implementation.
There are various technologies – some emerging and some already well-established – that authorities can benefit from in performing their tasks. However there are, on the one hand, uncertainties regarding their capabilities and limitations in the border management environment, and on the other, anxieties around potential data security and protection issues. Cyber-attacks today are more frequent and more extensive, with hackers becoming increasingly skillful at intruding into IT systems.
The 2018 WCO ITC aims to share lessons learnt from the latest pilot projects and initiatives deploying advanced technologies, including data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Delegates are invited to learn about, and share their experiences on a number of other topical subjects: How can Blockchain technology increase trust between the private sector and governments? What kinds of Clouds do we know about and how much security do they provide? What is the Internet of Everything and how can it support both the private sector and governments? How can international standards such as the WCO Data Model help? etc. Furthermore, the ITC will take a look at a more aspirational approach to how border management may appear in the future.
Through the many exciting topics and latest trends in information technologies, the 2018 WCO ITC will explore the path to enabling and building a reliable digital landscape to boost cross-border trade.
