Pacific Customs Officers Upskill in Risk Management Training

Thirty customs officers from various Pacific nations, including Fiji, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, and Vanuatu, have successfully completed initial training to become master trainers in Risk Management (RM) and Post Clearance Audit (PCA). This training, hosted at the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) Headquarters in Suva, was part of the Master Trainer Programme (MTP) organized by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The MTP is a key initiative of the WCO/JICA Joint Project, designed to bolster sustainable training capacities within customs administrations. It focuses on enhancing the skills of customs professionals throughout the region by creating a network of experienced trainers and providing tailored training materials and courses.

Udit Singh, the CEO of FRCS, emphasized the significance of the MTP for Fiji and neighboring islands, as it is expected to improve the skills of customs personnel, leading to better revenue collection, economic development, regional cooperation, and enhanced border security. Shelini Kumar, FRCS Director of Border and Customs, remarked that the MTP signifies important progress in managing the complexities of customs and border management.

Since 2016, JICA has partnered with WCO to implement the MTP, with the first phase focusing on Customs Valuation and Harmonised System classification from 2021 to June 2024, engaging six countries and producing 21 Master Trainers in the Pacific.

This initiative represents a vital step towards building a sophisticated and resilient customs service in the Pacific region, preparing these nations to tackle the challenges of a dynamic global environment.

In summary, this training reinforces regional collaboration and enhances the capabilities of customs administrations, fostering a more secure and economically prosperous Pacific. The positive impact of this program is expected to resonate throughout the region for years to come.