30 January 2026, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The World Customs Organization (WCO) successfully concluded its flagship Technology Conference and Exhibition, held from 28 to 30 January 2026 in Abu Dhabi under the theme “Customs Agility in a Complex World: Securing and Facilitating Trade through Innovation.” The event brought together more than 1,500 participants from over 100 countries, representing Customs administrations, international organizations, the private sector and academia. As the representatives of the ROCB A/P, Ms. Zhengqing YE, the Program Manager joined the event.

The Conference provided a global platform for exchanging views on how innovation, digitalization and strengthened partnerships can support Customs administrations in responding to an increasingly complex trade environment. Discussions highlighted that agility is now essential for Customs to effectively balance border security and trade facilitation amid growing trade volumes and emerging risks.

Key sessions explored the role of advanced technologies such as non-intrusive inspection, cloud computing and AI-driven analytics in enhancing risk management, operational resilience and decision-making. Participants also examined digital solutions including Single Window systems, linked data and verifiable credentials, as well as the importance of WCO standards such as the WCO Data Model and the Unified File Format (UFF) in promoting interoperability and seamless data exchange.

Capacity building featured prominently throughout the Conference, with sessions emphasizing the importance of skilled personnel, institutional frameworks and innovative training approaches, including virtual learning and e-learning, to support sustainable Customs modernization. The Conference hackathon further showcased how collaborative innovation can deliver practical solutions to real Customs challenges.

From the perspective of the WCO Asia/Pacific Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB A/P), the outcomes of the Conference will inform ongoing and future capacity building activities in the region. The insights gained will contribute to the development of technical assistance, training programmes and regional initiatives aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, promoting interoperability and enhancing cooperation among Customs administrations.

For more information, please contact us at rocb@rocbap.org.