Your Excellency, Moustoifa Hassani Mohamed, Minister of Economy, Industry, and Investments of Comoros;
Your Excellency, Ms. Davaasuren Gerelmaa, Permanent Representative of the Mission of Mongolia to the UN in Geneva;
Dear Pha Engveng, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia;
Dear Abdel Ilah Bousseta, Director of Postal Operations, Universal Postal Union;
Dear Paula Baena, Global Policy Lead on Customs, International Chamber of Commerce;
Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
It is my honour to welcome you to the first parallel event of our Conference. We decided to hold this event strategically on the first day as the ASYCUDA programme is a cornerstone of our organization and for our partners.
In this session, we want to discuss how digital innovation—and in particular, the new generation of ASYCUDA technology—can serve as a catalyst for more efficient, secure, and sustainable trade.
Technological progress offers us tools to shape our future—to reimagine trade systems that are more resilient, transparent, and inclusive.
ASYCUDA, as UNCTAD’s largest technical cooperation programme, is one of those technological solutions that we need to leverage. Across continents, it assists countries in advancing digital customs and transparent trade practices, and in strengthening institutions. I will comment on its concrete impact later.
Let me first highlight some of the cutting-edge solutions of ASYCUDA, that redefine how countries manage the complexities of modern trade:
- ASYCUDA World provides fully automated, paperless and real-time customs management. It can be seen as the backbone of national trade digitalization.
- The Single Window for Trade Systems builds on this foundation and streamlines procedures across agencies.
- ASYHUB offers interoperable digital corridors between customs and carriers, accelerating pre-arrival and pre-departure data exchange.
- ASYPM equips administrations to measure performance and strengthen integrity.
- ASYREC, developed in partnership with OCHA, improves the coordination and oversight of international humanitarian relief, ensuring logistically efficient and effective emergency responses to crises.
- And, eCITES delivers electronic permitting to safeguard biodiversity and enforce international environmental agreements.
Together, they enhance efficiency, transparency, sustainability, and resilience of global trade. They have proven to be invaluable tools.
We are proud that ASYCUDA World has already been implemented in 100 countries and territories.
And its impact is clearly measurable:
In Iraq, custom revenues increased 128% in 2024 compared to 2023.
In Jamaica, since 2016, paperless transactions enabled by ASYCUDA World and the Single Window have generated savings of approximately 6.3 million US dollars.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As technology advances, our software must evolve, too.
Today marks a milestone as we are launching the ASYCUDA New Generation:
- The new technology is cloud-based, open-source and modular. It is fully managed, maintained and safeguarded by UNCTAD.
- The New Generation introduces real-time monitoring, advanced analytics, and seamless integration with partner government
- It embeds artificial intelligence and machine learning to produce trade intelligence, enhance risk management, produce predictive dashboards and facilitate decision-making.
These innovations and transformations could not happen without ASYCUDA’s global network, including five regional centres and data hubs, spanning the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe. The centres deliver hands-on training, foster regional integration, and ensure operational continuity, even in fragile and remote contexts.
But as the new generation of ASYCUDA is rolled out, we cannot afford to stand still. Technology continues to evolve rapidly, and important challenges remain to be addressed: How can digital technologies further enhance efficiency, security and sustainability of trade? What lessons can be drawn from single window and regional integration efforts? How can automation of permits and compliance reinforce environmental agreements while simplifying trader obligations? How can we provide support during crisis situations?
Excellencies,
The theme of UNCTAD 16 reminds us that the future cannot be accepted passively—it must be shaped. Shaping the future of trade means making digitalization both inclusive and secure. It means ensuring that technology empowers rather than excludes, and that every nation can harness innovation to drive its own transformation.
ASYCUDA embodies this vision. It demonstrates how a multilateral initiative, owned and led by countries, can deliver practical results while adapting to frontier technologies. It is a reminder that cooperation between governments, between institutions and between partners sets a vital base for progress.
I want to end my remarks with thanking governments, regional organizations, customs administrations, partners, and donors for their continued support to this programme. Your commitment has ensured that ASYCUDA remains relevant, responsive, and results-oriented.
Thank you.