G20 china_web

Trade and investment
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Digital customs help facilitate and
secure international trade
They replace paper-based procedures
with electronic operations
The digitalisation of
international trade
The importance of information and communication technologies
cannot be stressed enough. Embracing it is our only option for
successful international trade, writes Kunio Mikuriya
Customs administrations must
adopt 'digital customs' to
facilitate and secure international
trade in the era of advanced
information and communications
technology (ICT). Digital customs is
global in scope and it is vital that the G20
understand its importance for strengthening
international trade and transport and thus
support its further development.
Technology is changing rapidly. Several
key trends are emerging, such as cloud
computing, mobile technologies, advanced
analytics and information management.
These provide numerous opportunities
to drive connectivity among customs
administrations, and with trade operators
and other border agencies. They can
increase productivity, which will in turn
lead to greater economic growth.
Digital customs initiative
To reaffirm the importance of ICT for
customs administrations and in the
work programme of the World Customs
Organization (WCO), digital customs was
chosen as the theme for 2016. Digital
customs means using digital systems to
collect and safeguard customs duties,
to control the flow of goods, people,
conveyances and money, and to secure
cross-border trade from crime, including
international terrorism, which continues to
plague countries around the globe.
The digital customs initiative aims to
replace paper-based customs procedures
with electronic operations, creating a more
174 G20 China: The Hangzhou Summit • September 2016 G7G20.com