The World Trade Organization (WTO) held its third webinar on Monday (10.06.2024) for customs experts from different countries to reflect on the different types of digital technologies used in supply chains to improve import, export and transit procedures.
The event called “Trade in goods in the digital age: A customs perspective” It offered more than 465 participants from over 120 WTO members the chance to learn how such technologies are significantly increasing transparency and compliance, improving risk management and leading to faster clearance of goods and safer borders.
Moderated Suja Rishikesh Mavroidis, Director of the WTO's Market Access Division, who highlighted the Trade Facilitation Agreement, as well as the Trade Facilitation Committee that oversees the implementation of the Agreement and serves as a forum for members to address issues and concerns. At the same time, she stressed the importance of understanding the practical applications of these technologies in order to assess their effectiveness.
In the case of the Eswatini Customs (Southern Africa), Brightwell Siboniso Nkambule, Commissioner General of the Revenue Agency, spoke about a project focused on automating data exchanges between traders and customs: the Brightwell initiative "Traders connect". It consists of a series of projects to facilitate procedures, avoid duplications and ensure the optimal use of resources that benefit traders and border agents. Nkambule said that the initiative is being used at a regional level to implement a shared data model. According to the pilot test, there is already a 37% reduction in the time to clear goods and a 92% drop in the inspection of documentation (combined with the AEO certification in January 2024).
Meanwhile, Singapore Customs (Asia) believes that trade is best facilitated by establishing a trusted, rules-based system that ensures fair play for all parties. This requires interaction with national, regional and international partners. Wai Yee Choo, Director of the Networked Trade Platform Office, explained what the comprehensive trade and logistics ecosystem looks like. He took a snapshot of the Network Trading Platform (NTP, in English) that has been operating since 2018. Currently, there are more than 6500 companies that carried out more than 500.000 transactions, which have saved participants more than $4 million and more than 800 hours.
The Net Trade Platform focuses on three areas: 1) Connecting government-to-government exchanges to facilitate trade. For example: electronic exchange of preferential certificates of origin between Singapore and China. 2) Improving processes between government and businesses. There are certain regimes where businesses have to provide established guarantees to customs, procedures that can be completed digitally. This saves time, effort and money for businesses and customs, and ensures data authenticity. 3) Developing services using government data. For example, tracking and tracing containers between Singapore and China, applying blockchain technology. In closing, Wai Yee Choo emphasized that the Net Trade Platform is based on web services, XML file exchange and pre-agreed certifications in messages.
The participation of the Abu Dhabi Customs (Asia) The seminar also aimed to highlight its efforts in establishing a digital institutional environment. Khalid Hasan Ali Al Marzooqi, Director of the Strategic Planning and Development Division, spoke about the implementation of the invisible customs, with artificial intelligence and blockchain. In his words: “Customs has improved efficiency. For example: obtaining certificates for vehicles used to take a day and a half, now it takes 0 minutes, and customs clearance went from 60 minutes to 15.87 minutes.” He also said that they have had a great impact on cross-border trade. In total, 79% of pre-arrival authorizations for goods at ports and airports have been reached.
Additionally, the Georgia Customs (Europe) Nino Jincharadze shared his efforts to digitize customs operations, collect revenue and compile trade statistics, Head of the Project Management and Development Division, referred to the application of the robotics and artificial intelligence in customs processes such as export declaration, tax assessment for yellow channel goods, procedure for closing internal transit documents, automation of the arrival process, implementation of carriers of the two customs clearance zones and issuance of certificates of origin. Nino Jincharadze said that time and cost were gradually and significantly reduced as a result of the reforms. For example: customs declarations for export have been reduced from 20 minutes to 10 minutes and issuance of certificates of origin takes only 1.5 minutes. In addition, customs services are provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
La Netherlands Customs (Europe) concluded the presentations with his approach to trade in goods in the digital age. Norbert WM Kouwenhoven, Strategy and Innovation Advisor, addressed the issue of dealing with the growing number of declarations and, consequently, a growing need for inspections. The Netherlands has the largest port in the world. Europe in Rotterdam and Amsterdam International Airport. Due to the location, 500 million consumers can be reached by car within 24 hours. Shipments have reached 800 million annually by 2023. With the increase in e-commerce, 1.200 billion shipments have been reached. In light of this, Kouwenhoven explained the approach of the customs based on risk and the use of technologies cutting-edge information technology such as artificial intelligence. He highlighted the work on automated detection of X-ray images for cargo scanning and anomaly detection.
You can watch the seminar Online – Virtual here
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