CUSTOMS AND INDUSTRY LEADERS TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED

From 08 to 10 October 2003 Customs managers, business leaders, government representatives and industry experts will come together for the 2^nd WCO IT Conference and Knowledge Fair. The event will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is aiming at discussing the many challenges and opportunities for development and efficiency offered by Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to Customs.

The Internet has dramatically changed the way international trade is being carried out globally. However, developing countries, and in particular the African continent, has not yet been able to generate the benefits from this 21^st century revolution, despite the encouraging growth rates in Internet usage in 2000 and 2001.

Lack of sufficient communication infrastructure as well as easy and affordable access thereto is regarded as the biggest barrier for development. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) forecasts that at the end of 2002 the global number of Internet users will have grown to 655 million, of which only 6.7 million (or 85 out of 10,000) are in Africa and 26.3 million (or 497 out of 10,000) are in Latin America and the Caribbean with the remaining 620 million being from North America, Europe and Asia. The increasing use and implementation of electronic information exchange by Customs as recommended by the WCO can significantly facilitate the development and availability of such networks.

The WCO, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as well as all major international organizations and lending institutions have identified ICT to be a core component and catalyst for economic and social development as well as for good public and corporate governance. ICT has also become the enabler for increased security in international trade by allowing closer integration with the global supply chain process, closer co-operation among Customs services and earlier receipt and processing of the necessary regulatory information.

The WCO 2003 ICT Conference will provide a platform for cross-sector co-operation to explore the many "digital opportunities" in this regard. The discussions will also provide an opportunity for industry and Customs experts to discuss practical steps for the implementation and application of IT best practices and will enable the transfer of experiences and knowledge.

The Exhibition, organized alongside the Conference, will offer participants networking opportunities to obtain first hand information from suppliers and users on solutions, technologies and trends.

Discussions will focus on:

• IT visions and strategies
  
• ICT solutions for Customs
  
• ICT development networks