Customs are investing not only in technology but also in human capital. To this end, the Vice-Presidency of the World Customs Organization (WCO) for the Americas and the Caribbean organized successfully its first Global HRM (Human Resource Management) Conference, under the theme “Strengthening resilience through human capital”.
The virtual conference, which was attended by more than 500 participants, was developed from the 1 to 2 June 2021. It provided an opportunity to collect and share international best practices related to the role of Customs HR professionals in managing crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Their support to Customs staff is key to effectively addressing current and future risks.
The meeting was opened by Secretary General of the WCO, Kunio Mikuriya, who said that “the crisis has confirmed that people are the most valuable asset of customs administrations.”
"We have learned that we must prepare to face multiple scenarios that allow us to face all types of future challenges to achieve greater resilience," he added. Deputy Secretary of the WCO, Ricardo Treviño.
In that line, the Vice President of the Americas and the Caribbean, Werner Ovalle, highlighted the joint work between the region's customs and the importance of adaptability to address the COVID-19 crisis.
"It is essential that customs administrations are flexible and agile, so that they can respond quickly in crises caused by unforeseen events," said the President of the International Network of Customs Universities (INCU), David Widdowson.
The virtual conference benefited from the insights and guidance of recognized leaders in different fields, including Directors General of Customs and Directors of Human Resource Management, international organizations, academia, and the private sector, among others.
Covered Topics such as strengthening a people-centric leadership culture, agility and flexibility through innovative work design, building capabilities through upskilling and reskilling people, and building resilience through the digital transformation of human resources.
In these two days of conferences, the customs of the Government of Peru, Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, Colombia, Jamaica, Panama, Mexico, Brazil and Uruguay, and leadership specialists such as the Universidad Tecnológica de Monterrey. They provided participants with an updated view of the crisis from a human resources perspective, as well as practical people management and development measures that can be applied to drive customs operations toward success.
In closing, the WCO reported on the development of the pioneering guide on “Human resource management in times of crisis in a customs environment”. This guide will take into account the recommendations of the conference and will be available this year 2021.
Aduana News is the first Argentine customs newspaper to launch its digital version. With 20 years of experience, its publications and initiatives aim to provide the most relevant knowledge on customs issues in order to contribute to safe trade in the region.
