Imagine Pacific Island customs officers independently conducting professional training to enhance their capabilities—what positive impact could this have on regional trade facilitation? With joint support from the World Customs Organization (WCO) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the "Master Trainer Programme (MTP)" is making significant progress toward building a self-sustaining pool of customs training experts across Pacific Island nations.
The recent third working group session in Suva, Fiji, marked an important milestone for this initiative. Hosted by the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) Regional Training Center, the event focused on two critical customs areas: Customs Valuation (CV) and Harmonized System Classification (HS).
Program Objectives and Structure
The MTP aims to establish a qualified team of trainers and develop regionally appropriate training materials through systematic capacity building. The program adopts a working group model, selecting designated officers from member customs administrations for intensive training over 2-3 years through five working sessions and intersessional practice.
The November 2022 session brought together 24 participants from six WCO members: Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu. As the third of five planned workshops, this event focused on advancing participants' expertise to become master trainers in either customs valuation or commodity classification.
Participants began developing training materials they will eventually use as certified trainers. WCO and Japanese customs experts delivered specialized lectures to deepen technical understanding and enhance material development skills. While still in early stages, participants will continue refining these materials between sessions for completion at next year's fourth workshop.
Regional Capacity Building
The WCO has long prioritized global customs capacity development, with Pacific Island nations facing unique challenges due to their geographic and economic circumstances. The MTP addresses these through several key objectives:
Establishing a regional trainer pool by developing professionals with both technical knowledge and teaching skills. Creating localized training materials tailored to Pacific Island contexts to ensure practical applicability. Enhancing customs management capabilities in critical areas like valuation and classification to improve clearance efficiency, combat smuggling, and increase revenue. Fostering regional cooperation through platforms for knowledge exchange among Pacific customs administrations.
Workshop Progress and Outcomes
The Suva workshop featured technical lectures on current international standards, practical case studies, and collaborative material development. Participants made notable progress drafting training resources including presentations, case exercises, and assessment tools while sharing field experiences and challenges.
As the program advances, maintaining close coordination with member administrations will ensure alignment with operational needs. Continued expert support for material development and trainer mentoring remains crucial, alongside robust evaluation mechanisms to assess program effectiveness.
By strengthening regional cooperation and self-sustaining training capacity, the MTP represents a strategic investment in Pacific Island customs modernization and trade facilitation.