Category / Capacity Building

by Mike Poverello

WCO News – October 2011 Edition

WCOnews October 2011An eagerly awaited edition of the WCO news magazine once again promises loads of insight into the Customs world. This edition includes – per usual – a variety of topics, amongst which –

  • The Secretary General of the WCO shares his thoughts on global threats and the need to remain vigilant and responsive.
  • Latest developments in WCO areas of work: compliance and enforcement, procedures and facilitation, capacity building and tariff and trade affairs.
  • How the WCO and UNCTAD work together to foster international trade.
  • Using controlled deliveries to combat wildlife crime.
  • Knowledge and dialogue – the focus of the Open Day for Trade and the Knowledge Academy.
  • PICARD Conference promotes research-based knowledge.

There also interesting articles from around the world –

  • East and Southern Africa benefits from new MBA with Customs specialization.
  • New Zealand Customs Service’s role in natural disaster relief.
  • Engaging the trading community in Customs modernization: the Brazilian experience.

The WCO’s website now also features some new stuff, and in particular ‘scholars’ are encouraged to try out some of the ‘free’ e-learning courses. These are not just for the privilege of customs officers. The WCO has been working hard with trade organisations to provide ‘industry wide’ courses and programmes for the trade professional. Source: WCO

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by Mike Poverello

WCO Knowledge Academy 2011

WCO Knowledge Academy 2011After an absence of almost a decade, the WCO convened a Knowledge Academy at its headquarters in Brussels. It took place right after the WCO Open Day for Trade, and ran for eight days, between 28 June and 8 July 2011. Over 50 delegates from both the private sector and WCO Member administrations travelled to Brussels from all parts of the world to attend the Academy. One of these was local systems architect, Anton Eccles (E-Tradex) based in Cape Town.

A total of 11 modules were offered focussing on key areas of WCO work, namely tariff and trade affairs (HS 2012, Rules of Origin, Valuation, Transfer Pricing), and facilitation and enforcement (WCO Data Model, AEO/SAFE, Risk Management). Following classroom activities participants travelled to the Port of Rotterdam for a presentation by Dutch Customs followed by a boat tour. This visit provided participants with the opportunity to see Customs procedures that were discussed and analyzed during the Academy in actual operation.

Thirty-four speakers, trainers and facilitators were involved: 17 were WCO staff members and they were joined by 17 external experts who were invited to address participants in either plenary sessions or during one of the training courses. Speakers included experts from three international organizations: the World Trade Organization (WTO); the International Monetary Fund (IMF); and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

In review, Anton maintains “the course was excellent and we had access to some really knowledgeable people. I think it was a good place to get an overall view of where the world of customs and global trade is moving too. Besides the course itself, the opportunity to share some experiences with people from other countries really gives you a good perspective what we do in South Africa”. The next Knowledge Academy is planned for July 2012.

South African visitors also attended the Trade Open Day.  Louise Wiggett (E-Tradex) and Mark Goodger (GMLS) stressed the importance of good partnerships between customs and trade. Both parties cannot operate effectively in their own capacity and it is only by joining forces that international trade can flow in a compliant, operationally effective and cost effective manner. 

To view a selection of photos from the WCO Council Session 2011, click here!

by Mike Poverello

A new Customs Journal

Customs Scientific Journal 1st Edition 2011The Customs Scientific Journal CUSTOMS is a peer-reviewed academic journal that is published electronically, twice a year by the Academy of Customs Service of Ukraine on behalf of the Regional Office for Capacity Building & Regional Training Centers for the European Region of the World Customs Organization. It was launched by the initiative of Regional Office for Capacity Building/Regional Training Centers for the European Region of the World Customs Organization on October 1, 2010.

Founders of this Journal regard it as a mirror of the implementation of Capacity Building Strategy for the Region Europe, as the communication and the coordination mechanism within region to support the establishment of customs-to-customs partnerships as well as to enhance the identification and exchange of modern technologies and best practices within the region.

The journal covers all aspects of the roles and responsibilities of customs with the focus on: Customs & Business Partnership, Professional education in Customs domain, Implementation of the WCO Standards, Best practices, Development of scientific activity. The most prospective are also the following broad sections: Young researchers’ page, Guests (papers by representatives of Customs Administrations/Customs Universities from non-EuR Region of WCO), as well as Reference Material.

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