Interest in better and smarter border management is at an all-time high. Driving this interest has been the need to boost economic growth and development, while maintaining high levels of compliance to guarantee the safety and security of citizens as well as the collection of revenue. Government in general, and customs more specifically, can contribute significantly to economic growth through modernization and automation, and through collaboration with other government agencies and trade, which will in turn lead to the highest levels of compliance. 

At the World Customs Organization (WCO), we are committed to playing a vital role in stimulating the growth of international trade through fostering connectivity, innovation and communication, and developing global standards, instruments and tools for the modernization and automation of customs procedures.¹

In all our efforts, we champion a partnership approach as one of the keys to building bridges between customs administrations and their partners, both in government and the private sector. An honest, transparent, facilitative and predictable border environment directly contributes to the economic competiveness and social well-being of states. 

In addition, the current discussions at the World Trade Organization (WTO) acknowledge that efficient and effective border procedures have the potential to provide more benefits to legitimate international trade than the reduction of tariff barriers. Customs play a key role in the modernization of border management. Advance cargo information, risk management, coordinated border management and the implementation of single windows, based on harmonized international standards, enable border agencies to ensure the highest levels of compliance by focusing controls on illicit trade, thereby securing and protecting their societies while facilitating legitimate traders.