FREEPORT, Grand Bahama
– The World Customs Organization IT Conference and Exhibition is set to take
place in Grand Bahama, May 6th thru 8th 2015 at the Grand
Lucayan Resort.
Larry Bodie, Superintendent of Bahamas Customs and Gurney
Armstrong, Chief Customs Officer attached to the Grand Bahama District and also
members of the planning committee confirmed
Thursday morning that all systems
are go for the conclave.
Mr. Bodie also informed that while the actual 2015 WCO
conference is set to start on May 6th that a pre-conference workshop
for senior managers in Customs Administration from the region will take place
May 4th - 5th at the resort.
Focusing on Strategic Leadership Information Technology the
two-day workshop will comprise a mix of briefings and presentations, case-study
discussions and table top exercises to enhance their understanding of the key
themes of the workshop.
The workshop has as its theme:
IT for an Inclusive Approach in Connecting Customs and Other
Stakeholders in Inter and Intra-Regional Trade.
According to Mr. Bodie, the three-day WCO IT Conference will
focus on exploring ways in which modern information and communications
technology can lead to exciting possibilities for countries to connect to
global and regional chains.
This conclave it expected to attract hundreds of
participants from around the world, inclusive of Customs authorities,
representatives from border and other regulatory agencies, the IT sector, the
broader business community, governmental and trade organization, development
partners, lending institutions and others involved in international trade.
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Rt. Hon. Perry G.
Christie, and Minister for Grand Bahama the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville will
address the opening session of the conclave.
Charles Turner, Comptroller, Customs and Excise Department,
The Bahamas, along with Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of the World
Customs Organization will also address the forum.
A number of other top Customs officials and others from the
United States, Korea, Costa Rica, Mexico, South Africa, The Netherlands,
Germany, Nigeria, Uganda, Japan , the United Nations and more will address the
three-day assembly.
