From 2 to 6 November 2026, the World Customs Organization (WCO BACUDA Project delivered a five-day National Workshop on Data Analytics for the General Customs of the Republic of Cuba (AGR) in Havana. The workshop was conducted in English, with interpretation into Spanish, and brought together officials from the Directorate of Risk Management, the Directorate of Technical Customs Processes and the Directorate of Customs Process Development.

The workshop supported one of the AGR’s strategic objectives: “promoting scientific and innovative development to achieve advances in digital transformation”, which the Administration is pursuing through its Sectoral Digital Transformation Programme. In line with the WCO’s capacity-building approach, the programme explored how data analytics, from fundamental concepts to the application of WCO-developed algorithms, can enhance Customs operations while keeping people at the centre of digital transformation.

The programme covered key topics including artificial intelligence (AI) fundamentals, data governance, data quality, and the foundations of AI and machine learning (ML), as well as generative AI and computer vision applications in Customs. Participants also took part in a hands-on session using the WCO Lite DATE model for risk prediction, exploring how data-driven approaches can support Customs risk management.

Through group work, participants applied the WCO AI/ML Readiness Self-Assessment Tool to evaluate the Administration’s current level of readiness for adopting AI and machine learning. They identified the AGR’s existing strengths and priority areas for further development. Building on the assessment results, participants prepared an initial AI/ML implementation roadmap, which they presented to the AGR leadership on the final day of the workshop.

The closing session was attended by Mr. Nelson Cordovés Reyes, Head of the AGR, and members of the Administration’s leadership. In his remarks, Mr. Cordovés stated: “This workshop has raised awareness across our Administration of how important AI is for making use of Customs data. The roadmap our officers prepared addresses the issues we face, and we intend to move quickly. We see this workshop as the starting point for the implementation of AI in Cuban Customs, and we are looking forward to the continued support of the WCO.