7th NCP Plenary Meeting: highlighting the practical use of WCO Smart Customs Project’s deliverables

•    The World Customs Organization (WCO) continues to provide practical resources to support Members adoption and use of disruptive technologies.
•    The meeting showed progress across the project, including new resources, increased participation, and growing use of project deliverables in capacity-building activities.

National Contact Points (NCPs) play an important role in linking the WCO Smart Customs Project (SCP) with Member administrations and in supporting the sharing of experience and knowledge. Funded by China Customs, the WCO SCP convened its 7th NCP Plenary Meeting to update participating Members on recent progress. The meeting also demonstrated how the WCO continues to develop resources that help Customs adopt technologies that facilitate legitimate trade, support fair revenue collection, and respond to evolving challenges at the border. Participants also benefited from a practical presentation by an expert already using one of the resources developed under the project.

Tracking progress across the project
The plenary meeting provided an opportunity to present the latest developments under the WCO SCP and to update NCPs  on progress in key areas of work.
Participants were informed that the updated draft Study Report on Disruptive Technologies is now available for review on the WCO Members’ website. The project team also announced the upcoming release of the Blockchain package, which includes the Detailed Report on the Adoption of Blockchain Technology in Customs, the Blockchain Readiness Self-Assessment Tool, and two detailed case studies.
The meeting also highlighted a study mission on Cloud Computing carried out with the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) in January 2026. In addition, participants were updated on the project’s participation in the 2026 WCO Technology Conference and Exhibition in the United Arab Emirates, as well as a Regional Smart Customs Conference in Hong Kong, China. 

Expanding knowledge for Members
An important aspect of the project is making practical knowledge more accessible to Members and supporting peer learning through shared examples and experiences.
In this context, participants were informed about the launch of a new Case Repository section under the “Resources” area of the portal. This new section features 91 initiatives submitted by 55 Members in response to the 2025 WCO Smart Customs Survey. The Case Studies section of the portal has also been updated and now displays 77 case studies.
These developments reflect the continued growth of the knowledge base available through the project. They also demonstrate the value of Member contributions in facilitating experience-sharing among Customs administrations and identifying approaches that can be adapted to their respective national contexts.

Bringing practice into the discussion
A key feature of the plenary meeting was the presentation delivered by Mr. Chamroeun San, a WCO Data Analytics Accredited Expert from the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia.
Mr. San introduced the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) Readiness Self-Assessment Tool, which was developed in the context of the WCO Smart Customs Project. His presentation generated strong interest among the participants, leading to a lively question-and-answer session. It was subsequently shared with the National Contact Points.
The expert’s participation was especially valuable because it demonstrated how a project deliverable can move beyond concept and be applied in practice. It showed WCO’s concrete efforts to bridge the gap between drafting documents and implementation by inviting stakeholders who can share their direct operational experience with the practical resources developed under the project.

Supporting practical implementation
The discussion around the AI/ML Readiness Self-Assessment Tool also showed that it is already starting to support capacity-building activities. It has been used by experts working with beneficiary Member administrations and has been positively received by them. This practical uptake confirms that project deliverables are being developed and are beginning to serve as useful resources for Members. 
The WCO SCP will continue to promote this practical dimension by inviting experts and stakeholders with hands-on experience in using project deliverables to share experiences and lessons learned with the NCP community.

Looking ahead
The meeting also provided an opportunity to acknowledge the project’s continued growth and the next major milestones ahead. 
Participation in the WCO SCP has now reached 150 WCO Members represented by 287 NCPs.
Participants were also informed of the upcoming WCO SCP Global Event. This event will provide a further opportunity to share experiences and strengthen collaboration.

Contact: 
For any queries, please contact: smartcustoms@wcoomd.org