The success of the 11th World BASC Global Conference culminated with the delivery of the closing keynote remarks given by the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Ian Saunders.
In his remarks, Mr. Saunders highlighted the importance of joint action to shape the future of international trade, stressing that events such as the BASC Global Conference facilitate the design and development of strategies to promote secure and sustainable trade practices that benefit both governments and industry.
He also pointed out that the theme of the Conference, The Future of Global Trade: Emerging Trends and Challenges in Supply Chain Security, the result of careful reflection and dialogue with the global trade community, reflects the need to address the challenges and aspirations of those operating on the front lines of international trade collaboratively.
Mr. Saunders shared how the WCO is active in these areas, formulating strategic plans to improve the efficiency and security of global trade, promoting collaboration between customs administrations and the private sector.
He emphasized the importance of integrating emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to make trade more secure and transparent, without losing sight of issues such as corruption and integrity, striking a balance between technological innovation and integrity.
Mr. Saunders urged BASC members to work together to strengthen these initiatives and reaffirmed the WCO's commitment to transparency and the fight against corruption, seeking to ensure that the benefits of international trade are distributed equitably.
BASC, as a member of the WCO Private Sector Consultative Group and its regional subgroup, is an example of public-private collaboration in this area.
The Secretary General urged customs administrations to leverage the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) model as a path to greater inclusion and trust in international trade.
He stressed the need to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and to empower women entrepreneurs and developing economies, creating a more inclusive trade network that positively impacts every economy.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Saunders highlighted the importance of strengthening the global supply chain, ensuring secure transactions and equitable opportunities for all businesses.
He thanked BASC for its leadership and the Conference participants for their commitment, urging them to continue driving positive change in international trade.
WCO-BASC Cooperation
The cooperation between the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the World BASC Organization (WBO) has its origins in the establishment of BASC in the late 1990s. Since then, both organizations have actively participated in various advisory committees and joint meetings. It is important to highlight the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the two bodies in 2007, which formalized and strengthened the collaboration between the WCO and BASC. This agreement established a framework for the exchange of information and best practices, promoting security and facilitating international trade through cooperation between customs authorities and the private sector.
