Following the development of a Mercator Implementation Plan for Colombia, the WCO delivered a 5-day national workshop in Strategic Planning that took place in Bogota from 17-21 February 2020, within the framework of the Global Trade Facilitation Programme (GTFP), funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). This activity envisaged to support the Customs Administration of Colombia, Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales (DIAN), in the efforts the organization is doing in the areas of strategic planning and implementation of sustainable Customs reforms.

During this week, DIAN’s officials became familiarized with different methodologies for strategic planning and development of targeted strategic objectives for Customs. The presentations from WCO experts were complemented with practical group work in which participants had to define a vision, strategic objectives and results, and develop key performance indicators. The outcomes of these working sessions were then presented to the whole group by the experts and will be pursued in upcoming follow up missions.

This activity also contributes to the assistance being provided by the WCO, through the GTFP, in the improvement of risk-based Customs procedures and post-clearance audit, in line with international standards and best practices. This support meets the priorities and needs of DIAN as it moves forward in the process of procedural and technological transformation.

For more information on the GTFP please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org