At the invitation of the Colombian Federation of Logistics Agents in International Trade (FITAC), the WCO Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Ricardo Treviño Chapa, attended its XXI International Congress in Barranquilla, Colombia on 24 and 25 October 2019, comprising several panel sessions covering a wide range of topics.
The event was graced by the presence of the President of Colombia, Mr. Iván Duque Márquez. He gave a speech highlighting the country’s economic performance, with Colombia having achieved economic growth of 3% above the regional average, and describing the ongoing Customs reform project which encompasses the development of a national Single Window.
Among the other public sector representatives were Colombia’s Minister of Commerce and Tourism, Mr. José Manuel Restrepo, and Minister of Defence, Mr. Guillermo Botero Nieto. Private sector representatives included Mr. Guillermo González Larsen, President of the FITAC Board of Directors, and Mr. Miguel Ángel Espinosa Alfonso, Executive President of FITAC.
The WCO Deputy Secretary General participated in the “Regional Challenges for Customs” panel session, together with Ms. Ingrid Diaz, Director General of Colombia Customs, Mr. Rafael Garcia, Director General of Peru Customs, and Mr. Thomas Overacker, Executive Director of Cargo and Conveyance Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Mr. Treviño Chapa outlined the ongoing challenges and opportunities for Customs administrations identified by the WCO in its current Environmental Scan and Strategic Plan. He referred to the latest trends in international trade, as well as to other challenges such as e-commerce and the growth of disruptive technologies.
During his stay in Colombia, the Deputy Secretary General also met with Mr. José Andrés Romero Tarazona, Colombia’s National Director of Taxes and Customs, to discuss Customs issues and cooperation with the WCO. He took this opportunity to underline the WCO’s willingness to continue supporting Colombia in its Customs modernization process.
30 October 2019