ROCB Europe supported the organisation of the seminar by mobilising relevant expertise, facilitating the involvement of the WCO Secretariat, and coordinating the participation of experts in Ashgabat.
Held in a hybrid format and addressed primarily to the WCO Regional Training Centres (RTCs) across the Europe Region, the seminar brought together a total of 95 participants, including 49 attending in person and 46 joining online. Participants included representatives of the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan, the WCO Secretariat, ROCB Europe, WCO Regional Training Centres, and customs administrations from invited countries.
The event provided a platform for exchanging experiences and discussing current developments and practical approaches in the field of Customs digital transformation.
The seminar addressed key issues related to the digitalisation of Customs, including data integration, automated Customs systems, risk management, emerging and disruptive technologies, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
Particular attention was given to global trends in Customs digital transformation and the WCO Smart Customs Project. Mr. Dimitris Politopoulos, Project Manager, WCO Secretariat, and Dr. Tong Hua, Technical Attaché, WCO Secretariat, shared insights into global developments in Customs digital transformation, emerging and disruptive technologies, relevant WCO initiatives and instruments, and the appropriate and responsible adoption of new technologies by Customs administrations.
A substantial part of the programme focused on Artificial Intelligence in Customs Risk Management. Mr. Yusif Usubov, Expert of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, delivered three thematic sessions covering the evolution of Customs risk management, AI fundamentals, machine learning applications and international practices, as well as AI-driven risk profiling, predictive analytics, Big Data applications and practical case studies. The sessions also addressed practical implementation, governance and ethics, data quality considerations, and future trends in the application of artificial intelligence in Customs.
Mr. Haji Hajiyev, Executive Officer of ROCB Europe, represented the Office at the seminar and contributed to discussions on digital transformation, capacity building and regional cooperation.
The seminar also featured a round-table discussion on “Digital Transformation and Capacity Building: Challenges, Opportunities and Regional Cooperation”, during which participants exchanged views on regional priorities, capacity-building needs, cooperation among Customs administrations, and opportunities for future joint initiatives.
The discussions highlighted the importance of regional cooperation, knowledge exchange and capacity building in supporting Customs administrations in their digital transformation efforts and in promoting the responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
The seminar concluded by underlining the importance of continued regional cooperation and future joint initiatives aimed at strengthening digital capabilities, enhancing risk management and supporting innovation across Customs administrations in the WCO Europe Region.
