News
The global coronavirus
pandemic caused overnight challenges for governments around the world adapting
to the impacts on supply chains and goods clearances. Now, a group of supply
chain and Customs experts have come together virtually to underline the
importance of digitalisation as the world starts its recovery in a post
COVID-19 world.
The first in a series of
webinars from Webb Fontaine (www.WebbFontaine.com), one of the leading
providers of Customs and trade solutions to governments worldwide, welcomed
more than 400 delegates logging in from around the world to hear from a panel
of experts. The ThinkTank webinar series has brought experts together in one
space with a purpose of knowledge and ideas sharing.
The “Digitalisation of Trade
and Revenue in Disaster Environments” webinars delved deep into key themes such
as supply chain and revenue collection, in the current trade facilitation
ecosystem. Held in both English and French, the sessions were interactive with
live polls and questions asked by delegates throughout, helping to bring in
even more ideas to the webinar.
The online discussions
featured insights from global trade experts including Frank Ferguson, Former
Director General of the Montserrat Customs & Revenue Service (MCRS);
Stephen Adekunle Oloyede, Comptroller Risk Management - Nigeria Customs
Service; Apeh Fateh, Assistant Comptroller ICT & Head of Implementation
Team for Nigeria Customs Service; Tapio Naula, VP - Trade Facilitation Program
at ASYAD Group; Dr. Jawwad Agha, Ex. Head of Customs Administration, FBR,
Pakistan; Mr. Ahmed Al Khatab, Commissioner Assistant for Customs &
Logistics at Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZA); Major Raouf Malehossou, Head
of Institutional Reforms, Benin Customs; Eric AKOUTE, Director Research and
Investment - APIEX (Investment and Export Promotion Agency), Benin; and Serge
Manouan , Director General - GUCE (Foreign Trade Single Window) Côte d’Ivoire.
The panel was moderated by
Michel Zarnowiecki, Director of Institutional Reforms at Webb Fontaine and
formerly Senior Regional Coordinator for Customs and Border Affairs at the
World Bank, and also saw contributions from Webb Fontaine experts: Pascal
Minvielle, Executive Director of Webb Fontaine Group; Ope Babalola, Managing
Director of Webb Fontaine Nigeria; and Ara Shamirzayan, Director of IT Development
and Research, Webb Fontaine Group.
Real life examples and
recommendations on how to ensure business continuity and secure contingency
deliveries were shared by the panellists with delegates, who also had an
opportunity to ask questions in real time. A number of polls were also
conducted, which saw an overwhelmingly positive response to the request of a
simplified import process, subject to reinforced ex-post compliance checks.
Commenting on the insights
shared, Michel Zarnowiecki said: “The panel highlighted the importance of
digitalisation, not only for individual countries, but also as part of the
broader multilateral framework and the regional and international surroundings.
Digitalisation is a pre-requisite, but it must be combined with practices by
both customs and the private sector to enable it, process-wise.
“While
80 per cent of international cargo movement is by sea, regional connectivity is
usually by road, hence the need to ensure, among other issues, digitalised
interface for transit and TIR. There is a strong requirement for unification of
processes, not only in the regional environment, but also for international
transactions.”
He added: “While the
situation requires immediate action, now may also be the opportunity to
implement actions and systems that have been recommended in the past. The
opportunity for reforms is staring at us and there is no escape from it
anymore.”
Webb Fontaine are soon to
release an overview paper summarising the key takeaways and learnings from the
webinar, while highlights are available to watch on the Webb Fontaine LinkedIn
(https://bit.ly/3eyaNfL) platform, where future webinar topics will also be
announced
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