33 representatives from 28 Customs administrations in the Asia/Pacific Region participated in the WCO Regional Workshop on Risk-based Passenger Selectivity from 9 to 13 June 2014.
The Workshop was held at the WCO Regional Training Centre in Cheonan, Korea, and was organized in cooperation with Korea Customs Service (KCS) and the Asia/Pacific Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB A/P), with the sponsorship of the Japanese Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF).
The workshop was organized following the identification in an annual needs assessment that risk-based passenger selectivity is a common challenge for many administrations.
This 5-day workshop covered the main elements of organizational risk management and then focused on risk-based passenger selectivity by examining several elements of risk assessment, profiling and targeting, including information and intelligence.
During the opening remarks, Mr. Jung-il SEO, Director General of Customs Border Control Training Center of KCS (Regional Training Center), and representatives of the WCO and ROCB A/P highlighted the importance of adopting a holistic approach when implementing risk management. They also emphasized the relationship between risk-based selectivity and effective resource allocation, facilitation and control.
Some elements of risk management at the organizational level were covered throughout the workshop, although the main focus was risk management at the operational level (risk assessment, profiling and targeting), with several syndicate group tasks, practical exercises, case studies and country presentations. The spotlight was put on passenger selectivity. Each session was followed by lively discussions, questions and answers.
During the syndicate group tasks and country presentations, participants entered into in-depth discussions on how to identify high-risk passengers by utilizing the methodology explained in the WCO Customs Risk Management Compendium. Case studies and practical exercises also contributed to deepening an understanding of the topics.