Customs authorities from 28 countries in the Americas and the Caribbean have participated in a virtual workshop to analyze best practices in disaster management. The meeting aimed to improve the capacity of customs administrations to address the challenges arising from COVID-19, other infectious diseases and similar events.
The World Customs Organization (WCO), in cooperation with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), held the virtual Regional Workshop on Disaster Management and Supply Chain Continuity in times of COVID-1 from February 4 to 2021, 19, reported the international organization.
This activity was carried out within the framework of the WCO COVID-19 Project, an initiative funded by the Government of Japan. It was attended by seventy-five participants from the 28 customs offices and international partner organizations, such as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
El Deputy Secretary General of the WCO, Ricardo Treviño Chapa, stated at the opening that “the pandemic was unexpected, but thanks to the important work carried out by customs administrations around the world, the international community now has improved tools to address the situation.” And he stressed: “The contribution of WCO members from the Americas and Caribbean region, with their long experience in natural disaster management, was particularly important in this regard.«.
Jaime Granados, Chief of the IDB's Trade and Investment Division, stressed the importance of supporting Members in the region, including through “Creation of a toolkit for customs contingency plans, in cooperation with WCO and UNOCHA.”
The role of multilateralism and regional collaboration was also highlighted by Werner Ovalle Ramírez, head of Guatemalan Customs and Vice President of the Americas and the Caribbean region, who, furthermore, He thanked the WCO for “the excellent support provided during the pandemic.”
Following the opening, customs administration managers discussed the challenges of COVID-19 and They reaffirmed the role of the Customs community in ensuring the functioning of the global supply chain and the protection of society..
In addition, they exchanged experiences on the most effective measures implemented at national and regional levels, such as They also addressed issues on the international agenda: digitalization, business continuity, improved preparedness, alliances, cooperation, the use of technology and the distribution of vaccines..
The WCO plans to replicate this Covid-19 Project initiative for the North Africa, Near and Middle East (MENA) region in early April.
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