With the support of the German Customs Cooperation Fund, the World Customs Organization (WCO) held a tariff classification workshop in North Macedonia. Focusing on dairy products, dietary supplements, and high-tech equipment, the workshop aimed to enhance the tariff classification skills of North Macedonian customs officers. This initiative seeks to facilitate international trade and promote customs modernization within the country.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) provided technical assistance to Timor-Leste Customs, helping to develop a training strategy and plan for 2017-2019. This initiative aimed to comprehensively enhance the professional skills of customs officers, build a robust internal training center, promote customs modernization, and improve Timor-Leste's trade environment. The project is part of the WCO-Norway Customs Capacity Building Programme, which covers several developing countries and aims to improve their customs administration.
On the occasion of International Customs Day 2025, the Customs and Excise Division of Antigua and Barbuda recognized three long-serving veteran officers for their outstanding contributions to national development. Their dedication and professionalism are invaluable assets to the customs service, inspiring all customs personnel to contribute to the nation's customs endeavors. The recognition highlights their exceptional service and commitment to upholding the integrity and efficiency of customs operations in Antigua and Barbuda.
With the support of the World Customs Organization (WCO), Seychelles Customs successfully developed and implemented a customized digital training strategy. By introducing blended learning models and e-learning platforms, the professional skills of customs officers and their ability to address modern customs challenges have been effectively enhanced, injecting strong momentum into customs modernization. This case provides valuable lessons for other developing countries, showcasing a practical approach to leveraging digital tools for capacity building and improving customs operations.
The Belgian Customs Academy provides training for customs officers from Francophone African countries, covering customs management, trade facilitation, and international cooperation. Participants visited the WCO headquarters to gain a deeper understanding of international customs cooperation mechanisms. This training aims to improve customs management in Africa, promote regional trade development, and explore future opportunities for deepening international cooperation to continuously enhance African customs capabilities. The program emphasizes practical skills and knowledge transfer to foster efficient and effective customs operations across the region.
The WCO provided online training on customs valuation to Ecuadorian Customs, enhancing their valuation capabilities, promoting trade compliance, and safeguarding revenue collection. This initiative aimed to improve the accuracy and efficiency of customs valuation processes within Ecuador, ensuring fair and transparent trade practices. By strengthening the skills of customs officers in valuation techniques, the WCO training contributes to a more robust and reliable customs system, ultimately benefiting both the government and legitimate traders.
The World Customs Organization (WCO), through its Global Trade Facilitation Programme (GTFP), provided remote technical assistance to the State Customs Committee (SCC) of Uzbekistan, focusing on enhancing Post-Clearance Audit (PCA) capabilities. Through theoretical reviews, practical exercises, and case studies, the project significantly improved the auditing skills of Uzbek customs officers and provided recommendations for developing specific customs procedures. This initiative supports Uzbekistan's efforts to improve its trade facilitation level.
The Côte d'Ivoire Customs Academy held a seminar focused on leveraging e-learning to optimize personnel training and enhance the professional competence of customs officers. By mastering technology, optimizing curricula, and customizing content, Côte d'Ivoire Customs not only improves training effectiveness and reduces costs but also promotes knowledge sharing and adapts to changes. This provides a valuable reference for the digital transformation of customs administrations in other developing countries.
Under the Mercator Program, the World Customs Organization (WCO) conducted a post-clearance audit (PCA) workshop for the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to enhance its tax compliance oversight capabilities. Through the training, Guyanese customs officers gained in-depth knowledge of PCA concepts and techniques, laying the groundwork for improved customs control efficiency and trade facilitation. The WCO looks forward to continued cooperation with the GRA to further advance its customs administration.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) conducted a customs valuation training in Seychelles to enhance the practical skills of the country's customs officers. The training focused on the core principles of the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation, combining theoretical knowledge with practical exercises. This initiative is part of the WCO's capacity building project, aimed at assisting developing countries in improving customs administration, promoting trade facilitation, and increasing revenue collection. Accurate customs valuation is crucial for ensuring revenue integrity and maintaining fair trade practices.
