A Sub-Regional Workshop on Risk Management was held at the WCO Regional Training Centre in Skopje, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, from 10 to 12 May 2016 with support from the China Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF/China). The event was attended by Customs officials from the host country, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and from Albania, Montenegro and Serbia. The purpose of this Workshop was to assist participants better understand how risk management, together with Post-Clearance Audit (PCA) and other WCO tools, can be utilized to improve WCO Members’ Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) practices. The Workshop also provided an opportunity for participants to discuss common interests and issues, while exchanging opinions and comments on national experiences and best practices.
Risk assessment and management are of key importance in Customs work and crucial in proactive decision-making relevant to successful performance of Customs controls. Risk management provides for timely and appropriate measures, actions and operations to prevent, mitigate or avoid risk and its consequences, i.e. to reduce and avoid the harmful effects of risk. The Workshop focused on the operational aspects of risk management, emphasizing field operations, aspects relating to the use of pre-arrival information in dealing with economic operators and their operations, and so on.
Smart human resource allocation, focusing on certain Customs routes, is a major concern for Customs administrations in this rapidly-changing international trade environment. By exchanging information for enforcement and trade facilitation purposes using WCO instruments and tools, Customs administrations will be free to focus on high-risk consignments and related persons while significantly reducing clearance and release times. Cooperation in this area with Customs administrations in the region and beyond, as well as with the private sector, international organizations and academic institutions, is highly prized by the sub-region’s administrations.
During the Workshop, participants had an opportunity to conduct practical exercises using the techniques learnt from the facilitators in the areas of risk assessment, establishing risk indicators and evaluating sample consignments and transportation.
The Workshop was a response by the WCO, supported by the CCF/China, to assist the sub-region’s Customs move towards greater implementation of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation.
The Workshop concluded with renewed commitment by Members in the sub-region to exchange information and further cooperate in risk management.