The World Customs Organization (WCO) hosted the 20th Global Meeting of the Regional Entities established by WCO Members and Council Vice-Chairs’ Offices on February 24-25, 2025. The two-day event brought together key regional stakeholders, reinforcing collaboration and alignment with the WCO’s strategic objectives for enhanced capacity-building and modernization.
The meeting was opened by the Deputy Director of the WCO Capacity Building Directorate, who welcomed delegates and highlighted the vital role regional entities play in strengthening global customs cooperation. The Chairperson of the meeting then delivered the opening remarks, setting the stage for discussions aimed at optimizing regional structures and enhancing cooperation.
One of the highlights of the meeting was the presentation of new Regional Entities and Council Vice-Chairs, which marked an expansion of the WCO’s global network of regional entities.
Delegates also reviewed the progress of the WCO e-learning platform CLiKC!, with a particular focus on the evaluation of a pilot project on the setup of a tenant solution conducted with one of the Member administrations. The results demonstrated the potential benefits of providing dedicated spaces on CLiKC! for national training content.
The meeting also examined the VR Training Project, which has made strides in developing specialized modules on Air Cargo Control with Emphasis on E-Commerce and Container Control. Delegates shared valuable feedback on how to expand and improve VR-based training initiatives to enhance customs operations.
Another critical agenda item was the introduction of the WCO Capacity-Building Paradigm, aimed at reimagining the organization’s approach to technical assistance and resource optimization. In line with the WCO’s 2025 theme, “Customs Delivering on its Commitment to Efficiency, Security, and Prosperity,” the discussion centred on aligning capacity-building efforts with evolving trade and security challenges.
The Global Meeting also conducted breakout sessions, where participants explored ways to optimize the role of regional entities in capacity-building. The discussions focused on how regional entities can serve as force multipliers to improve knowledge-sharing, coordination, and policy implementation across WCO regions.
The plenary session that followed the breakout discussions provided a platform for rapporteurs to present key findings, challenges, and recommendations. These outcomes will contribute to the discussions of the 16th Session of the Capacity Building Committee.
As in previous meetings, regional entities took the opportunity to share good practices and experiences, providing insights into innovative approaches that have been successful in their respective regions. Additionally, WCO Directorates provided updates on ongoing initiatives and new tools designed to support Members.
The Global Meeting was given a presentation on and discussed “Good Practices and Challenges of the WCO Regional Customs Laboratories (Self-assessment tool for RCLs),” the newly developed self-assessment tool for RCLs. This document serves as an instrument to help RCLs evaluate their compliance with expected standards and operational effectiveness.
The meeting also reviewed the Work Programme of the Global Meeting (2022-2025) and assessed its progress. This exercise enabled delegates to reflect on achievements and identify areas requiring further action.
The meeting concluded with the re-election of Mr. Souod Salem AlAgroobi, Director of ROCB MENA, as Chairperson and Mr. Antonio Lo Parco, Director of ROCB Europe, as Vice-Chairperson for the 21st Global Meeting.