2010 World Customs Forum attracts key international speakers

06 October 2010

2010 World Customs Forum attracts key international speakers

Brussels, 6 October 2010

Press Release

Over 300 Customs and business experts representing more than 80 countries met in Istanbul, Turkey today for the 2010 World Customs Forum which runs until 7 October.

His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey’s Prime Minister, sent his greetings to the meeting which was being held under his auspices. He stressed the importance of international trade to global economic prosperity and emphasized Turkey’s commitment to trade facilitation and security.

High-level speakers at the opening ceremony included: Hayati Yazıcı, Minister of State for Turkey; Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO); Walter Deffaa, Director General of the EU Taxation and Customs Union Directorate; and Alan Bersin, Commissioner of the US Customs and Border Protection agency. Many other speakers will also share their expertise around the conference theme: “Building Momentum for Effective Partnership”.

“The future for all international trade stakeholders is closely linked, and depends on our ability to work together,” said Secretary General Mikuriya in his opening remarks. “Together we must further develop consultation mechanisms, promote information exchange and cooperation, and reduce barriers to the smooth flow of trade by jointly identifying bottlenecks and offering innovative solutions,” the Secretary General added.

The event is built around interactive panels focusing on Customs and trade working in partnership, a global network of Customs administrations, better border coordination and the key role of information in trade and transport logistics. These inter-connected themes will ensure that the discussions cascade into integrated outcomes.

Participants will learn how government agencies and trade can maximize cooperation, how to investigate efficiencies made possible by closer and more effective collaboration and the means to consider 21st Century opportunities and challenges. Progressive Customs administrations will describe their strategic approach to modernize procedures, practices and support systems, their efforts to improve security and facilitation, and innovative ways to use information.

Complementing the Customs presentations will be a range of high-profile international speakers from the private sector representing vitally important sectors such as marine port communities, road transport, manufacturing, and global supply chain standards.

A parallel exhibition enables leading industry exhibitors from both Turkey and other countries to demonstrate and showcase their products.

Organized by the WCO in conjunction with its industry partner the Trusted Trade Alliance, the event is being hosted by the Undersecretariat of Customs in Turkey. Key sponsors include GTI (the Customs and Tourism Enterprises Company), KGH Customs Services and SICPA Assan as well as Smart CM Container Chain Management and MIC Customs Solutions.