As the global "new normal" continues to take shape, the World Customs Organization (WCO) successfully convened the first meeting of its Customs Work Organization Forum (CWOF) on December 13, 2022. This virtual gathering brought together over 700 representatives from 169 countries and territories to explore how to move beyond pandemic-era emergency measures and establish more resilient, efficient, and sustainable customs operations that can safeguard global trade prosperity and security.
A Call for Transformation: Addressing Global Challenges to Reshape Customs' Future
The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented disruptions to global trade and supply chains while exposing critical vulnerabilities in traditional customs operations. The predominantly in-person work model faced significant limitations, with declining efficiency and increasing risks becoming apparent. Recognizing the urgent need for transformation, the WCO established CWOF as a strategic response following comprehensive analysis of insights from previous global conferences on human capital management.
The forum serves as a dedicated platform for WCO members to exchange best practices, discuss emerging challenges, and collaboratively develop innovative solutions for customs work organization. Its creation marks a significant step in the WCO's ongoing commitment to supporting members through capacity building and knowledge sharing.
Knowledge Sharing: Five Key Pillars for Customs Transformation
During the inaugural meeting, participants engaged in robust discussions centered around five critical themes essential for modernizing customs operations:
- Digital Transformation: Leveraging technology to enhance efficiency, mitigate risks, and improve stakeholder experiences
- Risk Management: Strengthening assessment capabilities and early warning systems to identify and address potential threats
- Workforce Development: Cultivating highly skilled personnel with enhanced professional competencies and adaptability
- Collaboration & Coordination: Fostering partnerships across government agencies, international organizations, and private sector entities to tackle global challenges
- Sustainability: Integrating sustainable development principles into customs operations to support economic, social, and environmental progress
These discussions provided valuable insights that will help guide the future direction of customs operations worldwide. The high-level deliberations offered customs administrations practical recommendations for integrating new work models into their organizations, with particular emphasis on technological integration and leadership development.
Strategic Framework: Establishing Governance Structure and Priorities
Participants formally adopted CWOF's terms of reference during the meeting, clearly defining the forum's mission, objectives, and strategic priorities. This foundational document will guide CWOF's future activities.
The assembly also appointed leadership for the forum and three specialized committees that will drive specific aspects of the transformation agenda:
- Customs Work Settings and Processes Committee: Focused on optimizing operational workflows to enhance efficiency and transparency
- Workplace Design Committee: Dedicated to developing ergonomic, safe, and productive work environments that improve employee satisfaction and performance
- Workforce Management Committee: Tasked with refining human resource policies and practices to attract, motivate, and retain top talent
These committees will conduct in-depth analysis of challenges related to customs work model transformation and provide WCO members with specialized guidance. The WCO also shared key findings from its comprehensive survey on pandemic-era work arrangements, offering data-driven insights that will inform future policy decisions.
The inaugural CWOF meeting represents a watershed moment in the evolution of global customs operations. By fostering international cooperation and knowledge exchange, the forum aims to develop adaptable, future-ready customs administrations capable of meeting the complex demands of 21st century trade.