With the aim of assisting Oman customs in effectively and efficiently embedding risk management practices in Customs operations, the WCO, in cooperation with the Directorate General of Customs, organized a Risk Management / Assessment Workshop in Muscat, Oman from 19 to 23 October 2014. The workshop, attended by 30 participants from the Headquarters, airport and regional Customs offices, has particularly emphasized on how to establish and maintain national targeting centers and administer a robust Customs selectively system.　

During the 5 day workshop, participants examined critical issues related to risk identification and treatment including the development and implementation of a Customs risk assessment system based on profiling and targeting in accordance with the methodology explained in the WCO Customs Risk Management Compendium. Participants also discussed the identification of key risk areas and related risk indicators applicable to sea cargo, air cargo and land cargo movements as well as the global and national information and intelligence strategies.

Case studies and practical exercises were used during the syndicate group tasks in order to deepening the understanding of technical concepts in this area. An overview of the WCO tools contained in the Compliance and Enforcement Package was also provided to the participants to support their tasks in this domain. Each session was followed by lively discussions, questions and answers.

Feedback from participants was very positive and this was clearly reflected in the closing speech by the Brigadier Issa bin Said al Kiyumi, Director General of Oman Customs who highlighted, inter alia, the importance of adopting a holistic approach when implementing risk management.