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The WCO in the 21st Century
About the Conference
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Title: |
The WCO in the 21st Century |
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Subtitle: |
Inventing our Future
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Date: |
27 - 28 March 2008
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Location: |
WCO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium
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Introduction: |
On 26 January 1953, representatives of 17 European countries attended the first session of the Council, which is the governing body of the World Customs Organization (WCO) whose principal mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations. Today, the WCO is the voice of 171 Customs administrations drawn from every continent and representing all stages of economic development. The Organization serves as a forum for dialogue and the exchange of experience between national Customs administrations, offering its Members a wide range of Conventions and other international instruments designed to secure and facilitate international trade, as well as capacity building and training.
This year, the WCO Secretary General, Mr. Michel Danet, wishes to conduct a wide-ranging debate with the WCO’s partners, to reflect on what form the Organization should take in the 21st Century. Should the WCO be similar to the Organization we see today? If not, what changes should be made? This conference provides a unique opportunity to determine, together, what will enable the WCO to remain the centre of excellence for Customs worldwide, and what challenges will need to be overcome in order to achieve this goal. |
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Objectives: |
The purpose of this major conference is to map out the future role and operations of the WCO, so that the Organization can continue to support its Members as they face the challenges that the 21st Century will pose for Customs. The Forum will bring together a variety of international experts representing the private sector, the WCO’s partner institutions and members of the academic world.
They will conduct a strategic exploration of various key aspects of the WCO, such as the decision-making process and the nature of its instruments, supply chain security and trade facilitation, how the responsibilities of Customs are changing and the importance of an appropriate capacity building strategy, as well as issues surrounding the regionalisation of activities.
All of the speakers will be non-Members of the WCO, this being a means of visualising the future of the Organization as perceived by its main partners. WCO Members will have an important role to play in the ensuing discussions. |
| Strategic significance: | This debate is of great significance, insofar as the role and responsibilities of Customs are continually evolving in an ever-changing commercial and institutional environment. In this situation it is essential that the WCO reflect on its future in the most open way possible, in order to maintain its expertise and credibility for the benefit of its Members. |
You are invited to participate in, or sponsor this World Customs Forum, which is aimed at inventing our future | |
