The Ministry of Finance is organizing the second World Customs Organization (WCO) Technology and Innovation Forum in November, in which official delegates from 185 countries will participate, said Dr. Youssef Boutrous Ghali, the Egyptian Minister of Finance. It has already been agreed with WCO Secretary General Mr. Kunio Mikuriya that Egypt will host the event which was held in Brussels last year, he added.

The forum is to discuss a number of issues relating to customs, international trade, and data exchange on various subjects, including commercial traffic, development of customs clearance procedures, and systems used to control the access of goods through customs and ports. The meeting will also discuss how customs authorities could make a better use of technology to handle goods and consignments more securely, and tighten controls in order to prevent smuggling and drug trafficking, while maintaining speed and efficiency in customs clearance procedures.