Imagine if customs systems could operate like seasoned chess players, anticipating risks and making precise interventions—what level of efficiency and security could this bring to international trade? The World Customs Organization (WCO) is actively cultivating such strategic thinkers. Recently, with joint support from WCO and Japan Customs, a pre-certification workshop on Risk Management (RM) for Technical and Operational Advisors (TOA) in the Americas and Caribbean region successfully concluded in Guatemala City, injecting new energy into regional customs capabilities.
Japanese Funding Accelerates WCO Expert Development
Sponsored by the Japan Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF-Japan), the workshop took place from June 12-16, 2023, bringing together 12 customs officials from 10 regional administrations. This initiative forms part of WCO's strategic plan to expand its expert roster while promptly addressing member administrations' risk management needs.
Guatemala's Customs Director Werner Ovalle Ramirez warmly welcomed participants during the opening ceremony, highlighting the growing importance of regional experts in supporting WCO members' technical requirements. He noted that conducting the workshop in Spanish—alongside WCO's official English and French languages—added significant value to the program.
Five-Day Intensive Training Produces Risk Management Specialists
The comprehensive workshop rigorously evaluated participants across five key competency areas:
- Technical knowledge application: Assessing mastery of RM theories, methodologies, and practical implementation in customs operations
- Presentation and facilitation skills: Evaluating ability to clearly communicate RM concepts and lead productive discussions
- Communication and advisory skills: Testing capacity for effective cross-cultural consultation and professional guidance
- WCO tools and documentation: Measuring familiarity with WCO resources to enhance RM practices
- Collaboration abilities: Observing teamwork effectiveness in completing RM tasks
Participants demonstrated exceptional knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm throughout case studies, group discussions, and simulation exercises, with many expressing strong interest in contributing to future WCO capacity-building initiatives.
The Certification Journey Continues
Successful workshop participants now qualify for the next certification phase—field assessments in actual customs environments. Those completing the full process will join WCO's expert database, supporting member administrations requesting RM technical assistance.
Risk Management: Cornerstone of Modern Customs
In today's complex global trade environment, effective RM enables customs administrations to:
- Optimize resource allocation by focusing on high-risk areas
- Facilitate trade through reduced low-risk cargo interventions
- Enhance security by identifying potential threats
- Improve enforcement through targeted intelligence operations
Practical Applications of Customs Risk Management
Real-world implementations demonstrate RM's transformative potential:
- Big data analytics: Identifying high-risk shipments through trade pattern analysis
- Differentiated inspection strategies: Streamlining clearance for low-risk goods
- International information sharing: Strengthening cross-border enforcement cooperation
- AI integration: Enhancing risk detection through machine learning algorithms
This successful workshop represents a significant step in WCO's Americas and Caribbean capacity-building strategy. As more certified RM experts enter the field, the global trading system moves closer to achieving optimal security, efficiency, and sustainability—core objectives driving WCO's ongoing efforts.