On 08 May 2024, the 6th WCO Global AEO Conference was launched in Shenzhen, China, by the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), Mr. Ian Saunders. This event, lasting three days, was themed “Harnessing the Power of AEO Programmes for Inclusive and Sustainable Global Trade.”
The conference attracted over 1,200 attendees from 108 countries and regions, for a more inclusive and sustainable global trade system. The participants included officials and representatives from various government departments, international organisations, businesses and academia.
The AEO concept is based on the Customs–to-Business partnership introduced by the WCO. It embodies the principle that the relationship between customs and AEO should be always based on mutual transparency, correctness, fairness and responsibility. AEO is a certification system that grants favourable treatment to enterprises demonstrating exemplary credit, compliance and safety standards.
The Global AEO Conference is the highest-level global conference in the field and is regarded as the largest capacity building activity of the WCO. The conference is being held in China for the first time, showcasing the country’s growing potency in the global trade system.
Edward Kieswetter, chairperson of the WCO Council, stated that the AEO programme is a key part of the trade facilitation framework established by the WCO. China, a major player in global trade, has been successful in implementing the AEO programme, making it an appropriate host for the sixth WCO Global AEO Conference.
China had signed AEO mutual recognition agreements with 26 economies by the end of March this year. These agreements covered 52 countries and regions, including 35 Belt and Road partners. China’s number of mutual recognition arrangements signed and the number of mutual recognition countries and regions ranked first in the world.
The opening ceremony was graced by the Vice Minister of the General Administration of China Customs (GACC), Mr. Wang Lingjun, and the Mayor of Shenzhen City, Mr. Qin Weizhong, along with other distinguished guests and delegates. The Mayor expressed his satisfaction that his city been chosen for the organization of the conference and enumerated the various innovative programmes adopted by the city.
In his opening speech, Secretary General Saunders thanked the GACC for their collaboration in organizing the conference and for their relentless efforts to ensure its success. He said that, “AEOs epitomize the synergy between Customs authorities and the business community, fostering a collaborative environment where trade efficiency and security are paramount. The significance of AEOs transcends mere operational benefits; the AEO programme embodies our shared commitment to a transparent, secure, and resilient trade ecosystem.”
He stressed the importance of amplifying the benefits of AEO programmes across the full spectrum of global trade participants and underscored that the strength of the programmes is magnified when there is engagement with a diverse range of stakeholders. He added that, by integrating more MSMEs into the AEO family, Customs will enrich the tapestry of global trade.
The conference, featured eight plenary sessions and six breakout sessions with 80 speakers. These sessions covered a wide range of topics pertinent to AEOs, including leveraging data analytics and emerging technologies for better risk management and trade facilitation, empowering women through AEO programmes, the role of AEO programme in supporting e-commerce and cross-border trade in the digital age, expanding the AEO programme to Free Zones, and assessing the impact of the AEO Programme.
You may be interested in this related article about WCO activities from our archives: Customs Training in Pacific Islands.
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