In a remarkable display of global collaboration and forward-thinking discourse, the 3rd WCO Global Origin Conference commenced its proceedings in Santiago, Chile on 8 November 2023, centred around the theme "Building Trust in the Origin Environment." This conference, hosted by the National Customs Service of Chile and supported by the Korea Customs Service, the European Union, and various private sector companies, has garnered considerable attention, with over 500 registered participants from 82 countries.
At the Opening of the conference, Ms. Alejandra Arriaza Loeb, Director General of Chile Customs mentioned her appreciation of the support of the WCO Secretariat and underscored the importance for the Customs community to strengthen their collaboration and pursue in-depth discussions on the topic of Rules of Origin. A video message by Ms. Claudia Sanhueza Riveros, Under-Secretary for International Economic Relations, on behalf of the Government of Chile, was played during the conference. In her message, she highlighted the organization of the 3rd WCO Global Origin Conference, in Chile. In this regard, she showcased the importance of the Rules of Origin for Chile, that has more than thirty free trade agreements with other countries. Therefore, this conference is very important to strengthen the partnership between private and public sectors and enhance international trade.
In his opening address, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, WCO Secretary General expressed his thanks to Chile Customs and emphasized the importance of the rules of origin as one of the core aspect of regional integration and improving business climate. He maintained the continuous WCO support in upgrading various WCO tools in this area, including the WCO Feasibility Study on establishing an Interconnectivity Framework for Certification of Origin. He suggested this conference would be an excellent opportunity for building trust between Customs and with business through dialogue and networking.
The inaugural day featured expert-led panel discussions and engaging origin business talks, delving deeply into the intricate landscape of navigating Rules of Origin under diverse trade agreements, streamlining implementation processes, factors influencing the utilization of trade preferences, and establishing trust within the origin environment.
During the next day of the conference the speakers will explore the topic of digitalization within origin procedures, spotlighting best practices in Customs-to-Customs exchange of data and the undeniable benefits of Single Window solutions.
Prior to the conference, Secretary General Mikuriya met with Mr. Juan Antonio Coloma Correa, the President of the Senate of Chile. During this meeting, the Secretary General underscored the importance of Customs in the supply chain, and advocated for further support for Customs modernization. The President of the Senate thanked the Secretary General for his insights and reiterated his commitment for building capacity in Customs and to nurture the new generation of Customs officers.
During his stay in Chile, Dr. Mikuriya attended the closing ceremony of ASAPRA's general assembly on 6 November and the Customs Brokers International Congress on 7 November. In his speech, he underscored the significant partnership between Customs and the private sector, built on trust, cooperation, mutual understanding, and respect, forming the foundation for seamless international trade.