This year’s International Federation of Customs Brokers Associations (IFCBA) World Conference to be held in Manila on May 29-31, 2018 focuses on the impact of current events in international and local trade on customs brokers and their allied stakeholders.
Themed “Redefining Global Trade Practices: A Conference for Customs Brokers and their Trade Partners,” the biannual gathering provides a venue for educating delegates in a shared learning environment designed specifically for those in the field of Customs administration.
Conference sessions seek to further delegates’ understanding of current events in international trade, ranging from e-commerce developments to new trade agreements, and the most recent technological advancements. Session topics include international shipping and trade costs, customs education, and the value proposition of the World Customs Organization’s Authorized Economic Operator program for customs brokers. The event will also provide time for renewing and establishing new connections among attendees.
IFCBA secretary Carol West earlier said the conference facilitates exchange of information, including on customs policies and best practices, among participants. It will provide federation members an opportunity to network with Filipino customs brokers, and for the latter to discuss their concerns and “see how the international community can contribute to that discussion.”
Representing the interests of the world’s customs brokers and their clients since 1990, IFCBA works to bring about improvements in global customs policies and practices to ultimately benefit federation members and their clients.
Hosting this year’s conference is the Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc. (CCBI), an IFCBA member and the Philippines’ only accredited professional organization for customs brokers.
CCBI has been actively representing customs brokers and their clients in dialogues with government and in promoting the welfare of the profession. Among its recent projects is a partnership with the Philippine Bureau of Customs authorizing CCBI personnel and experts to observe and act as witnesses during physical examination of alerted shipments if cargo owners are absent to ensure that no shipment stays in the port too long.
The 2018 conference comes at a time when Philippine customs brokers’ organizations have just renewed their membership with IFCBA after years of absence in the federation. It will also be the second time that the biannual conference will be held in the Philippines after the first World Congress was held in Manila in 1996.
Apart from the conference proper, there will be an optional add-on day excursion on May 31. – Roumina Pablo
