Africa has an incredible opportunity to take up digitalisation which, if done correctly, could see the continent out-develop and leapfrog many other customs organisations with far more resources.This is the opinion of Jonathan Migeotte, coordinator for Risk Management at Belgian Customs. Explaining further, he says: “The availability of technology and data is increasing, while the cost is coming dow n.”Patrick Gyan of the World Customs Organization (WCO) agrees, saying digital technology has evolved rapidly. Hence, the WCO has been working tirelessly over the past few years to provide an appropriate response to meet the demands of the business community as well as those stakeholders who are leveraging technology to operate efficient trade supply chains.“Having customs and tax administrations use data effectively would depend on various factors to do with data ethics. These include privacy, commercial secrecy and legal issues. “It would also have to do with the importance assigned to innovations that nurture a data-driven culture and a well-developed data ecosystem in public administration.”According to Gyan, the overwhelming majority of the WCO members say customs will need to focus far more on digitalisation and data that’s connected. The goal is to make data a vernacular language among customs administrations and between the WCO secretariat and members. Hence, with all stakeholders making use of standards developed by the WCO, African countries can only benefit from digitalisation.“Digitalisation is critical to facilitating the free and smooth f low of goods,” elaborates Gyan. “It is particularly important to eliminate significant practical, economic, and even security issues. “It is also essential in terms of enabling automated processes for control and risk management using advanced information and communication technology, including data analytics.”
