Title:	Enhancing the Global Dialogue on Capacity Building
Subtitle:	Better Customs, Freer Trade, Safer Borders, Better Societies
Date:	04 April 2007
Location:	Sandton, Gauteng (South Africa)


Conference:	For free trade to better flourish in the developing world, it is important to have in place the appropriate governmental machinery that is transparent and predictable. In addition, countries must manage increasing trade volumes in a secure and facilitated way. The development of integrated, efficient Customs and trade processes is one important and specialised part of a bigger picture that needs to be addressed to obtain sustainable development. Through a partnership approach where different capacity building donors and beneficiaries work together, we can create a global drive for concentrated implementation action plans for developing countries to better foster free trade. The global trade and Customs community is working hard to better facilitate and secure international trade flows. At the heart of this are Customs administrations, the governmental machinery that processes global trade, contributes to public budgets, provides security, and protects nations from smuggling, counterfeiting, and organised crime. Drawing from its over 50 years experience in representing Customs administrations, the World Customs Organization (WCO) has a large portfolio of international conventions, guidelines, and best practices aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations. This conference will foster donor partnerships, strengthen Capacity Building, promote sustainable development, and address the challenges of globalization. We will also address the overall and more general issue of how to enhance capacity building delivery regardless of sector.
Objectives:	The conference will present information on the WCO Columbus Programme, the largest Customs capacity building programme on record. By visiting over 100 countries and conducting analytical studies between January 2006 and July 2007, the WCO has learned what is working, what is not working, and what needs to be done for Customs administrations. This knowledge is critical for making trade more effective, efficient, transparent, and predictable. Conference aims Launch and nurture an enduring dialogue for organisations supporting trade and Customs development. Present an interactive forum for exchanging ideas and experience on the delivery of capacity building for trade management. Discuss how promoting international standards and capacity building tackles the challenges of poverty reduction, public financing, trade facilitation, security, good governance, and anti-corruption initiatives.
Target audience:	Participants will be high-level decision makers from international organisations, governments of developed and developing nations, multilateral development banks, regional banks, other multilateral financial institutions, development agencies, regional economic and Customs blocs, and aid organisations. They represent the vast majority of organisations currently working on trade development.
Speakers:	The conference will be chaired by Pravin Gordhan, Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service and former Chairperson of the World Customs Organization. Many esteemed and world-renowned development leaders will address the conference, including: Paul Wolfowitz, President, World Bank Michel Danet, Secretary General, World Customs Organization Theo Fletcher, Vice President, IBM Koos Richelle, Director General, EuropeAid Cooperation Office, European Commission Government Ministers from South Africa, Sweden, Zambia and the United Kingdom Customs Directors General from developed and developing countries

Tell-a-friend More information? Print