The city of Lima hosted the event “Designing a Secure Digital Landscape to Promote Cross-Border Trade” as part of the 17th Technology Conference and Exhibition, held every year by the World Customs Organization (WCO) with the National Superintendency of Customs and Tax Administration (Sunat).
The WCO Informatics Conference 2018 concluded on 8 June, summarising the results of discussions on the latest developments in Information Technology (IT) in customs and border management, the world organisation said in a statement.
The meeting welcomed 600 delegates from 75 countries, was supported by 32 sponsors and exhibitors and brought together 70 speakers who spoke in 11 keynote addresses and 18 plenary and TechTalk sessions.
The National Superintendent of Customs and Tax Administration of Peru (SUNAT), Mr. Victor Shiguiyama Kobashigawa, welcomed the delegates by emphasizing that it is essential to provide efficient and cost-effective services to foreign traders while ensuring supply chain security. To achieve these goals, the use of new technologies and digital transformation represent opportunities to radically improve the performance and reach of customs organizations.
OMA
In his opening remarks, WCO Secretary-General Dr. Kunio Mikuriya noted that we live in an era where digital technology is evolving rapidly and opening up new economic opportunities. He added that the growth of the E-commerce offers great opportunities for consumers and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, but there are also many challenges that need to be addressed promptly. It is therefore timely to explore the possibilities that technology can offer to improve connectivity at the borders through a whole-of-government approach.
South Korea
Director General of the Information and International Affairs Office of the Korea Customs Service, Dr. Taeil Kang, stressed that the IT Conference and Exhibition of the Korea Customs Service is a OMA has an important role to play, as it brings together all relevant stakeholders to discuss the latest developments in Customs and Border Management IT solutions.
WTO
The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Roberto Azevedo, stressed the importance of IT in the context of the implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, as well as in the context of supporting the growth of e-commerce. He stressed that we must ensure that this digital revolution is inclusive for all.
Discussion topics
Delegates discussed issues such as the Artificial Intelligence applied to the cross-border movement of electronic commerce goods. It was also linked to the maritime sector with customs and other border agencies, and discussed the cyber security like technology Blockchain.
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.
