Revenue hosts World Customs Organisation IT Conference in Dublin
The Minister for Science, Technology & Innovation, Mr. Conor Lenihan, TD, today (Wednesday 28th April 2010), opened the World Customs Organisation IT Conference and Exhibition in the Burlington Hotel Dublin.
The three-day event which is being organised by the World Customs Organization (WCO) in cooperation with the Revenue Commissioners brings together 350 delegates who will obtain first hand information from suppliers and users on trends, technologies and solutions that have been designed specifically for the international Customs and trade market.
The annual conference, which is being held in Ireland for the first time, has not been held in Europe since the inaugural Conference in 2002. Delegates from over 60 countries are in attendance.
Speaking at the Conference Minister Lenihan said:
"It is fantastic to see an exhibition of this scale and magnitude being hosted in Dublin. This conference will provide a showcase for the latest IT solutions and will highlight opportunities for exhibitors and participants alike".
"I also note from the programme that this conference will be examining the question of Customs and Trade working in partnership. This is a critical area and one that brings together two very important themes - trade facilitation and compliance", the Minister added.
Welcoming delegates to the Conference, Revenue Chairman Josephine Feehily said:
"In the first decade of the 21st Century, we have seen, all too clearly, that when an interdependent world, operating under an integrated global economy descends into recession, the ensuing financial crisis spares no one. This reality positively reinforces the fact that co-operation between all those involved in international trade is the key to recovery, economic development and the engine which drives that global economy forward. For our part, in economic and social development, Customs has a duty to do everything we can to facilitate the flow of trade while at the same time fulfilling our fiscal mission and our role in protecting society".
The exhibition organised in parallel to the Conference showcases a range of IT products and solutions that are specifically targeted at the international Customs and trade market and provides an opportunity for business, Customs administrations and others involved in the movement of goods across international borders to meet and view the most up to date technologies.
The opening session was also addressed by Sergio Mujica, Deputy Secretary General WCO. Other speakers at the conference include John Herlihy, CEO of Google Ireland, Miroslaw Zielinski, Director of Customs policy in the TAXUD Directorate-General at the European Commission.
Over the three days of the Conference and Exhibition Leading IT companies such as Accenture (who are the Corporate event sponsor), Microsoft and others in conjunction with key Irish organisations such as the Irish Exporters Association, IBEC and representatives from Customs authorities from Europe, US, Asia, Australia, Africa and China will share their expertise around the theme: "Fusing data to transform business processes".
[Ends 28/04/10]
Link to Conference website: WCO Conference and Exhibition website