Dubai Customs is set to host the Middle East debut of the WCO IT Conference and Exhibition. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the 2013 edition will be graced by His Highness Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, who will also deliver the keynote speech.
Themed ‘Effective Solutions for Coordinated Border Management’, the WCO IT Conference and Exhibition will run from 14 - 16 May, 2013 at Atlantis – The Palm in Dubai.
The conference will be headlined by a number of prominent global leaders and decision makers including His Excellency Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Raymond Benjamin, Secretary General of the International Organization of Civil Aviation (ICAO), Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization, John Scanlon, Secretary General of CITES, and Juma Al Ghaith, Executive Director of Customs Development at Dubai Customs.
His Excellency Ahmed Butti Ahmed, Executive Chairman of Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, Dubai Customs Director General, said: "The WCO IT Conference and Exhibition gains contextual importance from its status as the annual calendar event for decision-makers and stakeholders in the customs industry worldwide. In addition to serving as the primary reference point for discovering new IT approaches, technologies and solutions in customs, the platform will help identify ways to strengthen border and ports security, and facilitate foreign trade. The IT conference and exhibition is known to significantly impact core business activities and the way border agencies operate across the trade, economic, security, and political priorities."
The conference will focus on sharing views, experiences and best practices between global border security agents and other government entities such as customs, environment ministries, municipalities, health authorities, and immigration. It will also seek to broaden communication channels between stakeholders to help maintain safer economies and societies.
His Excellency Ahmed Butti Ahmed added: "The selection of Dubai to host this global event is without doubt an achievement that we are very proud of. The emirate’s distinction of being named as the ‘World Festival and Event City’ by the International Festivals and Events Association for the last two years clearly validates our ability to organise some of the largest and most important events. WCO IT Conference and Exhibition 2013 is yet another feather in our cap that builds our case further as the most ideal venue to host World Expo 2020."
The event is expected to witness the participation of more than 800 senior decision makers representing the World Customs Organization and customs departments of more than 100 countries, including specialists in customs, security and information technology. The forum will take up for discussion topics related to customs operations, such as control and inspection systems, as well as transport and logistics.