th6 BORDER MANAGEMENT & IDENTITY CONFERENCEon TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING1-3 December 2021 - Bangkok, Thailand

Solutions to Minimize Disruption to Cross Border Movements of People and Trade while Safeguarding National Security During Pandemics

Hosted by: Organised by: APSCA

OBJECTIVES The conference and exhibition were founded by IOM and APSCA as an initiative to support improvements in border and identity management, with a focus on the Asia Pacific region. The biennial meeting has a specific focus on fostering border and identity governance through closer consultation and cooperation between the key stakeholders in the sphere of identity management, including:

• Government authorities responsible for border and identity management;• International partner organizations and development agencies;• Leading providers of identity solutions;• Subject matter experts

The conference is an opportunity for stakeholders to share information on new developments and continue to define the border and identity management agenda, in pursuit of the stated objectives.

The conference includes an exhibition of the latest solutions and technologies designed to improve facilitation of cross border movements while strengthening national security, to enable government authorities and international partner organizations to advance border and identity management processes.

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About the ConferenceThe International Organization for Migration (IOM) and APSCA will host the 6 Conference on Technical Cooperation & Capacity Building for Border Management and Identity (6 th BMIC), together with an exhibition of the latest border and identity management solutions, on 1-3 December 2021 in Bangkok, Thailand. Since the first Border Management and Identity Conference in 2010, this international event has become the largest gathering of national government authorities specializing in Immigration, Home Affairs, Border Control, Civil Registration, Customs, Population Management, Justice, Health, Public Security and other agencies with responsibilities in the area of Migration, Border and Identity Management.

MIGRATION, MOBILITY AND TRADE DURING GLOBAL DISRUPTIONSIn Asia Pacific and around the world, governments are dealing with major disruptions from a global pandemic, which has created unimaginable obstacles for migration flows, severely restricted human cross-border mobility and challenged state’s responsibilities to citizens and travellers.

The pandemic has also created uncertainty in the economic environment. Now, more than ever before, the facilitation of international migration flows and the expedition of human mobility can benefit cross-border trade and economic development, which have been interrupted by travel restrictions during the pandemic.

“International migration and economic development are woven together. Over the long term, each supports the other in a virtuous cycle. Migration is thus one of many forms of development.”Michael A. Clemens, Center for Global Development and IZA Institute of Labour Economics, December 2017

ASIA: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIESThe combined population of East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia in mid-2019 was 4.24 billion and is expected to increase by 14% to 4.85 billion by mid-2050¹. As the largest and most populous global region with 30% of the world's land area and 55% of the current population, Asia faces context-specific challenges and undisputable opportunities in facilitating the movement of people and goods.

The need for key stakeholders to work together on defining and developing the border and identity management agenda, through cooperation and capacity building, has never been greater.

1 - Population Reference Bureau - https://www.prb.org/international/geography/asia

Theme of 6 BMICth

FACILITATION, SECURITY AND HEALTHDuring the pandemic, government authorities responsible for border and identity management have started the “new normal” initiative to improve and facilitate necessary cross-border movements of travellers, citizens, migrants and refugees in an era of increased travel restrictions, and medical and documentation requirements. They need to ensure that all individuals are effectively identified before entering the country. The following are some of the key issues:

• Border management agencies are facing the same situation (significant increase in requirements for documentation and processes of travellers, citizens, migrants, refugees and goods to process) and the same challenge of limited resources;

• Security and health screening measures should be implemented at stages throughout the migration continuum, including the pre-departure, border-crossing, and post-arrival stages. This requires effective coordination between visa/permit issuing authorities, immigration entities and border officials in countries of origin, transit and destination;

• Addressing backlogs in immigration and visa-related procedures to facilitate secure, timely and coordinated processing, while enabling access to regular mobility pathways, such as the continuation of temporary and long-term migration programmes, amongst other admission schemes;

• Long-stay arrivals, including workers, migrants and refugees, require a whole-of-government approach, including integrated national identity management systems, to facilitate access to government and social services;

• For persons: identities need to be managed securely to protect citizens, migrants, refugees, vulnerable people, in particular women and children, from organized crime, traffickers, smugglers and terrorists;

• For goods: protecting the supply chain from contraband and commercial fraudsters, as well as protecting citizens from dangerous products, are major concerns;

• At the national level, strong political commitment and close co-operation between national border agencies and identity authorities will drive improved facilitation and security to prepare for the next pandemic;

• From an international perspective, multilateral agreements between government border authorities and the use of international instruments are crucial to ensure good migration governance, facilitating orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people through planned and well-managed migration policies.

Issues to Address

Issues to AddressBORDER CONTROL AND IDENTITY MANAGEMENT WITH MINIMAL DISRUPTIONSEffective identity management is essential to facilitate the legitimate movement of people and goods while maintaining secure borders in fluid and rapidly changing scenarios.

While border control measures tend to focus on enforcing migration laws, effective identity governance goes beyond borders, aiming to create a robust link between individuals and their legally registered identities, contributing to more effective implementation of security policies, strategies and responses, while ensuring fundamental rights.

Effective identity management strategies are reliant on government capacities to improve the quality and the accuracy of collected biometrics and to make registration and verification secure, fast, and reliable, with minimal disruptions.

The 6 BMIC provides a creative platform to explore and discuss these issues from the perspective of government authorities and the international organizations who support them.

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Border management strategies and facilitation schemes that benefit visitors, while increasing the development value from tourism while limiting potential negative health impacts.

Latest developments impacting the range of identity documents which government authorities need to issue to citizens, non-residents, travellers, migrants, refugees and stateless persons.

New solutions to manage visas electronically and new strategies on how government authorities can implement predictive intel-based border control processes by analysing passports and visa frauds' trends.

The impact on border and identity management of technology developments to improve passengers, baggage and cargo customer experience, as well as reliability and efficiency of services provided.

Use of mobile devices, digital identity and document-less identity schemes for citizens and travellers, and the long-term outlook for border and identity authorities in the use of new approaches for secure facilitation and identity management.

Conference TopicsUndisrupted or backup solutions and systems to assist government authorities responsible for managing customs and trade to automate their core processes for import, export and transit of goods.

Existing innovative approaches, including distributed ledger, to managing identities with the objective of providing enhanced trust and control over legacy approaches.

Appropriate management of data privacy requirements for Personally Identifiable Information (PII), such as biographical and biometric data, used in identity data storage and transactions.

Current technologies and implementation of immunity travel documents that include sensitive but secure health data for border crossings, in addition to biographical and biometric data.

Leading in excellence since 2010

396Participants

58Global Markets

35%Government Agencies

18%International Organisations

23%Female Participants

58 Governments Represented at the 5 BMICth

What people said about the 5 BMIC:

"An incredibly valuable meeting place of key stakeholders discussing topics that matter. One of the highlights of this year."

Stephan HofstetterManaging Partner, SECOIA Executive Consultants

"This conference brings the gap closer between the most advanced countries and the developing countries in terms of utilization of technological advance in the area of border management.”

Shafiqullah ArianDeputy in Civil Affairs, Afghanistan Border Police

"It was an eye-opening event that not only showed what is available currently but also as to what the future trends in identity management are."

Kairangi SamuelaCook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration

"This event is extremely important for the knowledge of new border identification methodologies, as well as new associated technologies."

ELIAS OLIVEIRA DE AMORIM NETODepartment of Migration, Ministry of Justice, Brazil

"Great event for networking not only within suppliers of the industry but also direct conversations with government personnels and different interested stakeholders."

Shanty JoengDirector, IXLA

BORDER CONTROL AND IDENTITY MANAGEMENT WITH MINIMAL DISRUPTIONSEffective identity management is essential to facilitate the legitimate movement of people and goods while maintaining secure borders in fluid and rapidly changing scenarios.

While border control measures tend to focus on enforcing migration laws, effective identity governance goes beyond borders, aiming to create a robust link between individuals and their legally registered identities, contributing to more effective implementation of security policies, strategies and responses, while ensuring fundamental rights.

Effective identity management strategies are reliant on government capacities to improve the quality and the accuracy of collected biometrics and to make registration and verification secure, fast, and reliable, with minimal disruptions.

The 6 BMIC provides a creative platform to explore and discuss these issues from the perspective of government authorities and the international organizations who support them.

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Workshop 1: Integrating health screening into border control and identity management processes at primary and secondary line inspection

The workshop will explore innovative schemes from government authorities, international organizations and the private sector to integrate health screening procedures at the borders.

Workshop 4: Beyond the biological threat: Strengthening border technology against cyber-attacks and technical disruptions

COVID-19 has thoroughly demonstrated the wide-reaching effects of a biological virus on border operations. Digital viruses, cyber-attacks and technical infrastructure failure also pose a risk to border security and activities. Proactive and responsive solutions, along with pre-emptive procedures, should be in place before incidents occur in order to continue smooth border and identity management.

Format of the ConferenceThe 6 BMIC CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION offers proven platforms for sharing information, experiences and new developments in border and identity management from representatives of all stakeholder groups over a full three-day period.

- Official opening of conference and plenary session

- Four workshops

- 3-Day exhibition of border and identity management systems, equipment and document security

- A forum for networking and information exchange

Workshop 2: Is facilitation still possible? Pivotal role of border management in preparing for the next pandemic

Government authorities and international organizations will share border management case studies from COVID-19, specifically on the facilitation of migration management processes. Discussion will ensue on how the experiences and best practices of stakeholders can be adapted for future health emergencies, to facilitate mobility while maintaining border security requirements.

Workshop 3: Credentials for pandemics: Innovative solutions to issues and processes involving “immunity travel documents”

Physical and digital solutions for immunity travel documents from vendors, as well as practical cases from governments, will be discussed. Sessions will include various conversations on acquisition, benefits, risks and responses on immunity travel documents at points of entry.

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APSCA

APSCA Secretariat

E: sales@apsca.orgW : www.apsca.org

IOM Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

IOM Secretariat

E: bmcsecretariat@iom.intW : www.iom.int/asia-and-pacific

Download the report from the 5 BMIC:https://apsca.org/The_5th_BMIC_Final_Report.pdf

APSCA_UpdatesAPSCA

IOMAsiaPacificIOMAsiaPacific

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For details about the 6 BMIC, please contact us at:th