From 8 to 10 May 2023, the World Customs Organisation (WCO) organised the 2nd meeting of the Working Group on Data and Statistics (WGDS) in a hybrid mode, at the WCO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, with a remarkable turnout of 48 attendees in person and an additional 140 participants joining online.
In his opening speech, the WCO Deputy Secretary General Ricardo TREVIÑO expressed great pleasure in welcoming all attendees to the 2nd meeting of the Working Group on Data and Statistics (WGDS). He highlighted the importance of the meeting agenda, which included topics such as the standardization of statistics on enforcement, the development of a Framework of Standards on Customs Statistics, the creation of a data portal, recommendations on data sharing using privacy-preserving technologies, capacity building, and coordination between different WCO data initiatives. He stressed the need for collective efforts, constructive discussions, and sharing of views and experiences to establish a solid foundation for the future of Customs statistics and data analytics.
The meeting yielded fruitful outcomes and robust discussions on critical topics. The participants reached a common understanding of the importance of adopting standardized approaches to enforcement statistics and adopted the preliminary set of Customs statistics on enforcement, together with their definitions and standards. The meeting also produced valuable recommendations on data sharing using privacy-preserving technologies, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding privacy while enabling efficient data exchange. Moreover, the Delegates underscored the significance of capacity building in data and statistics and acknowledged the need for effective coordination among the various WCO data initiatives. The meeting served as a solid platform for collaborative efforts and knowledge sharing, paving the way for advancement in Customs statistics and data analytics.
In his closing remarks, the Director of Capacity Building Dr. Taeil Kang, expressed gratitude for the participants' valuable contributions and their commitment to the success of the meeting.
The outcomes of the meeting will be presented to the next session of the WCO Policy Commission in June 2023.
The next session of the WGDS will hold at the WCO headquarters in November 2023.