Improving Customs Transit Systems
In the Islamic Countries
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2 Global Trends and Good Practices from non-OIC
Developing Countries
CTR is an essential part of trade facilitation measures that start emerging with the higher speed
and new trends of customs transit facilitation have been developed. This chapter will review
trends globally and examine in detail three international good examples in customs transit
regimes: ASEAN Computerized Transit System (ACTS), transit regimes systems in Latin America
and EU New Computerized Transit System (NCTS).
2.1 Global Trends in CTR
The most important global trends in CTR that will be explained in this chapter are following are
SMART borders, border management and cooperation, institutional framework, CTR exchange
of information and data, TIR electronic data exchange and data availability, blockchain,
integrated risk management, new technologies and trends for management at border crossing
points, customs seals, joint use of equipment and resources, infrastructure and equipment.
2.1.1 SMART Borders
Each year, the WCO Secretariat chooses a theme that is relevant to the international Customs
community and its partners. The slogan chosen for 2019 is “SMART borders for Seamless Trade,
Travel, and Transport.” This is an apt theme as the world increasingly moves towards working
smarter, using smart technologies, setting smart goals, and even living in smart cities.
“SMART” acronym stems from the following guiding principles: Secure, Measurable, Automated,
Risk Management-based, and Technology-driven 30.
Secure refers to the difficult task for Customs to facilitate the trade on one side and to combat
serious, organized smuggling and crime on the other side.
Performance measurement is an integral part of reaching and implementing well-rounded
decisions, which is why Customs requires a tailored tool that is founded on a globally recognized
and stand-alone standard. The WCO will lead the way in the development of this tool, as well as
in encouraging a culture of objective self-evaluation in order to track trade and organization
performance metrics.
In this process, Customs will have to further focus on automated solutions in order to foster an
environment of effective data mining and analysis, as well as one that is aware of the
cybersecurity threats and in keeping with emerging fields like digital forensics and internet
privacy.
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