Date and time: Monday, 3 October 2022, 2:00pm - 3:30 pm (Brussels/Geneva time)

Format: online (Zoom platform)

Interpretation: English, French and Spanish

There has been a significant uptake of disruptive technologies, in particular blockchain, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and machine learning, over the past few years, including in the Customs domain. However, there are still opportunities for broader implementation of these new technologies which can support Customs administrations in fulfilling their objectives, such as ensuring trade facilitation, safety, security, and fair revenue collection.

The WCO partnered with the WTO in the work on disruptive technologies that resulted in developing the WCO/WTO Study Report on Disruptive Technologies 2022, which is the second joint publication in this area after the joint paper published in the beginning of this year in this regard.

The global use of seven technologies by Customs will be highlighted through a presentation of the joint Study Report.

On 3 October 2022 the Study Report will be officially launched by the Secretary General of the WCO and Director General of the WTO. This will be followed by a panel session that will discuss how new technologies have been used by Customs, based on a number of use cases provided in the Study Report, including the opportunities and challenges in this journey.

Programme

Moderator: Brendan O’Hearn, Deputy Director, Compliance and Facilitation, WCO

14:00-14:15 OPENING

• Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, WCO Secretary General
• Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO Director General

14:15-14:25 KEY FINDINGS FROM THE WCO/WTO STUDY REPORT

• WCO / WTO joint presentation
  Emmanuelle Ganne, Senior Analyst, Economic Research and Statistics Division, WTO
  Özlem Soysanlı, Technical Officer, Compliance and Facilitation, WCO

14:25-15:25 PANEL DISCUSSION OF ONGOING PROJECTS

• Alejandro Gimenez, Project Leader, Development Division, Development and Quality Systems Directorate, Federal Administration of Public Revenues (AFIP), Argentina Customs
• Norbert Kouwenhoven, Strategy and Innovation Advisor, The Netherlands Customs
• Ibrahim Maifada Aboubacar, Principal Inspector, Head of the Customs Cooperation Division, Regulations and Customs Cooperation Directorate, Niger Customs
• Kyeyeong Kim, Assistant Director, ICT and Data Planning Division, Korea Customs
• Q and A

15:25-15:30 CLOSING REMARKS