In an increasingly complex international trade environment, effective risk management has become crucial for customs administrations to safeguard revenue, combat smuggling, and maintain national security. Addressing this challenge, the Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ITA BiH) has actively sought to strengthen its risk management capabilities with support from the World Customs Organization (WCO).
Workshop Overview
From December 4-8, 2017, the WCO conducted a comprehensive national risk management workshop in Banja Luka, the headquarters of ITA BiH. Funded through the Eurocustoms program, the five-day event featured WCO-accredited experts Baiba Truksane from Latvian Customs and Uwe F. Mallon from German Customs as lead facilitators.
The workshop brought together 20 officials from various ITA BiH departments, including the newly established Risk Management and Selectivity Unit, Customs Division, and Enforcement Division. The curriculum covered essential risk management components including assessment, analysis, and mitigation strategies.
Strategic Importance
The timing proved particularly significant as ITA BiH had recently institutionalized its focus on risk management through the creation of a dedicated unit. The WCO initiative provided an opportunity to both strengthen existing methodologies and adopt international best practices in risk profiling, targeting, and intelligence management.
Participants engaged in practical exercises applying the WCO Customs Risk Management Compendium, while benefiting from knowledge exchange with EU customs practitioners. The workshop established foundational competencies that would inform both strategic and operational decision-making.
Curriculum Highlights
The program addressed multiple dimensions of modern customs risk management:
- Fundamental concepts: Principles, processes, and organizational frameworks
- Assessment methodologies: Identification and evaluation of risks including smuggling, tax evasion, and IP infringement
- Analytical techniques: Application of SWOT, PEST, and statistical analysis tools
- Mitigation strategies: Development of response protocols for risk avoidance, transfer, reduction, and acceptance
- System implementation: Integration of risk management into organizational structures, processes, and information systems
- Resource optimization: Risk-based allocation of limited enforcement resources
International Knowledge Transfer
The workshop facilitated valuable cross-border experience sharing. Latvian delegates demonstrated advanced risk assessment and intelligence analysis techniques, while German participants outlined their comprehensive risk management systems. These exchanges provided ITA BiH officials with practical insights into EU customs procedures and contemporary risk management approaches.
Forward-Looking Recommendations
To sustain and build upon workshop outcomes, experts proposed several strategic actions:
- Development of a formal risk management strategy aligned with organizational objectives
- Establishment of interdepartmental coordination mechanisms
- Implementation of periodic system evaluations and upgrades
- Enhanced collaboration with private sector stakeholders
- Ongoing professional development and technology adoption
The WCO's capacity-building initiative represents a model for international technical cooperation, offering developing administrations practical pathways to modernize customs operations. The knowledge transfer positions ITA BiH to strengthen fiscal governance while addressing emerging security challenges in regional trade flows.