WCO Smart Customs Community Portal showcased at APEC meeting in Dalian, China

• The WCO Smart Customs Community Portal was presented to Asia-Pacific delegates as a practical platform for sharing knowledge and experience on technology adoption in Customs.
• The presentation highlighted how the Portal helps Members benchmark practices, connect with peers and access practical resources supporting their digital transformation.
• The World Customs Organization also contributed to the wider APEC Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures meeting through presentations on technology, innovation and opportunities for collaboration.

The Secretariat presented the Smart Customs Community Portal during the APEC Smart Customs Workshop held in Dalian, People’s Republic of China, bringing the platform and its resources to the attention of Customs representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region. Developed under the WCO Smart Customs Project (SCP), funded by China Customs, the Portal brings together practical knowledge, Member experiences and resources on technology adoption in Customs. The presentation provided an opportunity to demonstrate how the Portal and the SCP can support administrations at different stages of their digital transformation journey. 

Turning experience into shared knowledge

During the Smart Customs Workshop on 21 August 2026, the WCO Secretariat introduced the objectives and key features of the Smart Customs Community Portal. The presentation focused on the Portal’s role in helping WCO Members understand how technologies are being applied in Customs and learn from the experiences of other administrations.

Particular attention was given to three complementary functions: benchmarking practices across Members, building a community of Customs professionals working on similar challenges, and enabling dialogue and peer-to-peer exchange.

The Secretariat also showcased resources available through the Portal, including its Case Repository, detailed case studies and technology-focused resources developed under the SCP. Together, these resources aim to turn individual Member experiences into practical knowledge that can be more easily accessed and used by the wider Customs community.

The presentation provided an opportunity for delegates to become more familiar with the Portal and the ways in which it can support their administrations in considering technology adoption and digital transformation priorities.

Supporting wider engagement

The Secretariat's participation continued during the second meeting of the APEC Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures (SCCP2), held from 22 to 24 August 2026 in Dalian.

At the plenary session on 22 August, the WCO Secretariat delivered a presentation entitled “Advancing Technology and Innovation: WCO Tools, Practical Resources and Strategic Initiatives in Support of Member Administrations”. This provided a broader overview of the WCO’s work on Technology and Innovation.

A second presentation, “WCO’s Priorities and Opportunities for Collaboration”, highlighted areas of common interest and opportunities for continued engagement between the WCO and APEC economies.