The WCO ESA Regional Office for Capacity Building, in conjunction with the African Union Commission (AUC) and GIZ have organized a High-level Forum: Accelerating Digitalization in Customs to boost Intra-African Trade.
Theme: โLeveraging on ICT to boost Intra-African tradeโ
The Customs Digitization Forum is scheduled to take place on the 3rd & 4th of November 2022, and will be hosted by the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) in Kigali, Rwanda. The conference will focus on enhancing Customs performance and increasing efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of Customsโ mandate as well as boosting Intra-African trade through the use of Information Technology.
Background
The ESA Regional Strategy (2022-2025) recognizes the critical role played by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for reform and modernization of the region and in particular, Customs administrations. Key components towards its successful implementation are digitization and data management. As Africa continues recovering in light of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the place of information technology cannot be better underscored at this time. More administrations have increased their investment in ICT over the last two years, through progressive change management, integrating new and latest technologies and plans in delivering their mandate.
Meanwhile, the region continues to build institutional capacity and the body of knowledge in Customs through research, knowledge and information sharing as well as sharing and benchmarking on best practices.
PROGRAMME
DAY 1 : Thursday, 3rd November 2022
| Time. | Activity | Profiles |
| 09:00-09:30am | Opening Remarks 1. WCO ESA ROCB Director – Mr. Larry Liza 2. AUC – Mr. Dhunraj Kassee 3. Deputy Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Rwanda โ Mr. Clemens Siddhartha Hรคusler 4. WCO ESA Vice Chair – Mr. Batsirai Chadzingwa 5. Deputy Commissioner General, Rwanda – Mr. Kaliningondo Jean-Louis | Mr. Larry Liza Mr. Dhunraj Kassee Mr. Clemens Siddhartha Hรคusler Mr. Batsirai Chadzingwa Mrs. Paula Ingabire |
| Photo Session | ||
| 09:30-10:00am | Rwandas’s Digital Transformation Digital developments in Rwanda Revenue Authority – Mrs. Ingabire Kalisa Louise, Commissioner for Technology and Digital Transformation, RRA. | Mrs. Ingabire Kalisa Louise |
| 10:00-10:30am | Trends in Customs digitalization at the global and regional level i. Lessons from the WCO Technology Conference & Exhibition 2022 โ Mr. Badr Mouhcine, World Customs Organization ii. Accelerating digital reforms and modernization in ESA, challenges and opportunities – Batsirai Chadzingwa, ESA Regional Vice Chair and Commissioner of Customs, Zimbabwe. | Mr. Badr Mouhcine Mr. Batsirai Chadzingwa |
| 10:30-11:00am | Group Photo & Tea Break | |
| 11:00-11:20am | Implementing ePayment solutions and the AfCFTA – Mr. Willie Shumba, AfCFTA Secretariat | Mr. Willie Shumba |
| 10:20-10:40am | Technology to serve MSMEs and Women in Customs Mathabo Mokoko, Commissioner Client Services, Lesotho. | Mrs. Mathabo Mokoko |
| 10:40-12:00pm | E-commerce: Wrestling revenue leakage and illicit goods flows Lilian Nyawanda, Commissioner, Customs and Border Control, Kenya. | Ms. Lilian Nyawanda |
| 12:00-12:20pm | Intelligence Driven Risk Management Mr. Naden Vencatachellum, Customs Management Systems, Mauritius | Mr. Naden Vencatachellum |
| 12:20-13:00pm | Q&A session | |
| 13:00-14:00pm | Lunch | |
| Panel Discussion – Potential digital solutions for trade procedures automation and pre-arrival processing for express, postal and maritime shipments. | ||
| 14:00 – 15:00 pm | This session will explore and share experiences on Potential digital solutions for trade procedures automation and pre-arrival processing for express, postal and maritime shipments. Panelists: Mr. Mwumvaneza Felicien โCommissioner for Customs, Rwanda Mrs. Maja Rackovic, Head of Customs Office Airport PG & Mrs. Milanka Strunjas, Head of Section – Montenegro Revenue and Customs Administration Mr. Soboua Jose Patrick YAPI, Head of office for IT projects and development – Directorate General of Ivorian Customs Mr. Charles Basomba โ Manager Customs Business Analysis, Uganda Ms. Jane Musyoki โ Trade Information Portal, KENTRADE Moderator: Rasulov Khushnidjon, Responsible for the implementation in Rwanda, Programme Support to the AfCFTA & Alliances for Trade Facilitation, GIZ Rwanda | Mr. Mwumvaneza Felicien Mrs. Maja Rackovic Mrs. Milanka Strunjas Mr. Soboua Jose Patrick Mr. Charles Basomba Ms. Jane Musyoki Mr. Rasulov Khushnidjon |
| 15:00-15:30pm | Accelerating a Nationโs digital transformation โ Hon. Paula Ingabire, Minister of Information and communications technology, Rwanda. | |
| 15:30-16:00pm | Coffee break | |
| Panel Discussion – Public-Private Partnerships in Trade Facilitation | ||
| 16:00-16:40pm | This session will explore and share experiences on Public-Private Partnerships in Trade Facilitation. Panelists: Ms. Louise Wiggett – CEO, Global Trade Solution Mr. Desiderio Fernandes – President of the Federation of Clearing and Forwarding Associations of Southern Africa (FCFASA) and WCO ESA RPSCG Representative Mr. Daniel Alloush – Director, Trade and Customs, Publican by Ultra Moderator: Louise Wiggett, CEO, Global Trade Solutions | Ms. Louise Wiggett Mr. Desiderio Fernandes Mr. Daniel Alloush |
| 16:45 – 17:00pm | Q&A session |
DAY 2 : Friday, 4th November 2022
| Time. | Activity | Profiles |
| 9:00-9:10am | Welcome | |
| Panel Discussion: Digitalization in Rules of Origin (Electronic Certificates of Origin) | ||
| 9:10-10:00am | This session will explore and share experiences on digitalization in Rules of Origin (Electronic Certificates of Origin. Panelists: Mr. Alaman Armel Kone – Head of engineering department, Cote dโIvoire GUCE CI Mr. Nebart Mwapwele – Executive Director, Tanzania Chamber of Commerce Ms. Mette Azzam – Lead Origin Expert, EU-WCO Rules of Origin Programme Mr. Alexandre Alberto – Programme Officer Capacity Building Customs, SADC Mr. Lukhele Gift – Automated Systems Expert, COMESA Moderator: Badr Mouhcine, Head of Programmes, EU-WCO HS and RoO Africa | Mr. Alaman Armel Kone Mr. Nebart Mwapwele Ms. Mette Azzam Mr. Alexandre Alberto Mr. Lukhele Gift Mr. Badr Mouhcine |
| Panel Discussion: Transit Tracking Solutions | ||
| 10:00-10:50am | This session will explore and share experiences on Transit Tracking Solutions. Panelists: Mr. Abel Kagumire โ Commissioner of Customs, Uganda Mr. Kenneth Mbobua, Chief Manager, Business Transformation Office, Kenya Mr. Sessanga Jonathan – Principal Customs Officer, Information Technology, EAC ย ย Moderator: Dr. Emmah Omwenga, ย Deputy Commissioner, RTC Kenya | Mr. Abel Kagumire Mr. Kenneth Mbobua Mr. Sessanga Jonathan Dr. Emmah Omwenga |
| 10:50-11:10am | Tea Break | |
| Panel Discussion: Enhancing Coordinated Border Management through digitalization and Single Window implementation | ||
| 11:10-12:00pm | This session will explore and share experiences on enhancing Coordinated Border Management through digitalization and Single Window. Panelists: Mr. Alaman Armel KONE, Head of engineering department, Cote dโIvoire GUCE CI Mr. Smile Agbemenu – Principal Revenue Officer, Customs Division, Ghana Revenue Authority Mr. Billy Ngumi, Manager – Trade Facilitation and Value Add Services, Kenya Trade Network Agency (KENTRADE) Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration Rwanda Moderator: Brenda Nyambura, GIZ Kenya | Mr. Alaman Armel Mr. Smile Agbemenu Mr. Billy Ngumi Ms. Brenda Nyambura |
| 12:00-12:30pm | Summary Outcomes of Conference and Policy Recommendations โ Dhunraj Kassee, AUC | Mr. Dhunraj Kassee |
| 12:30 -13:00pm | Closing Remarks | |
| 13:00 -14:00pm | Lunch | |
| 14:00 -17:00pm | Site visit | |