From 10 to 14 August 2026, the World Customs Organization (WCO), under the BACUDA Project and with the support of CCF-Korea, conducted a National Workshop on Data Analytics for Dominican Republic Customs in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The workshop aimed to strengthen Dominican Republic Customs’ capacity to apply data analytics and artificial intelligence techniques in Customs operations, particularly in support of operational decision-making, intelligence analysis, risk management and evidence-based policy formulation.
The five-day in-person workshop was complemented by preparatory learning through the WCO CliKC! platform, covering the foundations of data analytics, data governance, data quality management, Python and machine learning. Around 20 Customs officers participated in the workshop, including senior managers and officers responsible for data analysis and economic studies, auditing and inspection, Customs systems research, innovation and IT development, enforcement and Customs intelligence, as well as general management and technical supervision.
The workshop supported Dominican Republic Customs’ ongoing efforts to promote data-driven decision-making. The General Directorate of Customs has been expanding its analytical capacity through dashboard development and the establishment of a Business Intelligence Department. Against the backdrop of growing data volumes and increasing demand for timely and reliable information, the workshop introduced advanced analytical methodologies and emerging AI technologies. It also contributed to the Dominican Republic’s broader modernization agenda, including the Meta 2036 initiative, by reinforcing Customs’ role in trade management, revenue collection and secure trade facilitation.
The programme opened with remarks by Dominican Republic Customs and the WCO, followed by an introduction to the WCO BACUDA Programme and an overview of recent developments in data analytics and AI in Customs. Throughout the week, WCO experts from Hong Kong Customs and Indonesia Customs shared practical approaches and use cases on the application of data analytics and AI in Customs operations. Sessions on data visualization and interactive dashboards highlighted good practices in dashboard design, evidence-based analysis and practical applications such as mirror analysis.
A key component of the workshop focused on AI-based approaches for risk management. Participants were introduced to the WCO Data Analytics Model, including DATE and LITE DATE, and explored their application in detecting undervalued imports and supporting fraud detection. Hands-on sessions enabled participants to work through key stages of the data analytics cycle, including data cleansing, feature engineering, model training, evaluation and interpretation of analytical outputs.
The workshop also addressed institutional readiness for AI adoption and sustainable implementation. Participants explored generative AI concepts, applied the WCO AI/ML Readiness Self-Assessment Tool and discussed Dominican Republic Customs’ current position in adopting AI and machine learning. A dedicated session on data governance, supported by a Korea Customs Service case study, highlighted the importance of strong governance arrangements for the sustainable use of data analytics and AI. Participants also developed a draft data analytics and AI implementation roadmap tailored to the needs of Dominican Republic Customs.
The workshop concluded with a plenary review of the roadmap, a summary of achievements and a discussion on next steps. Overall, the workshop strengthened national capacity to develop and apply data analytics tools, enhanced understanding of anomaly detection and risk targeting, and supported the institutional foundations for the sustainable deployment of data analytics and AI within Dominican Republic Customs. The WCO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Dominican Republic Customs in advancing its modernization efforts through data-driven and technology-enabled Customs practices.