Manila will host the International Federation of Customs Brokers Associations (IFCBA) 2018 World Conference on May 28-30, 2018, providing an avenue for customs brokers and allied stakeholders all over the world to address industry concerns.
Themed “Redefining Global Trade Practices: A Conference for Customs Brokers and their Trade Partners”, the gathering will tackle current and emerging issues related to international customs standards and new technologies that are redefining the business of international trade.
World Customs Organization representatives as well as Philippine Bureau of Customs officials are among those expected to speak at the bi-annual conference.
Participation is open to non-customs brokers.
In a recent interview with PortCalls, IFCBA secretary Carol West said the conference facilitates exchange of information, including on customs policies and best practices, among participants. It will also provide federation members an opportunity to network with Filipino customs brokers, and for the latter to discuss their concerns and “see how the international community can contribute to that discussion.”
Representing the interests of the world’s customs brokers and their clients since 1990, IFCBA works to bring about improvements in Customs policies and practices on a global basis to ultimately benefit federation members and their clients.
The 2018 conference comes at a time when Philippine customs brokers’ organizations have just renewed their membership with IFCBA after years of absence in the federation. It will also be the second time that the bi-annual conference will be held in the Philippines after the first World Congress was held in Manila in 1996.
Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc., the accredited professional organization of customs brokers in the Philippines, will be the host organization for this year’s conference.
Apart from the conference proper, there will be an optional add-on day excursion on May 31. More conference details will be announced soon. – Roumina Pablo
