Opening of WCO Regional Training Centre in Fiji
Fiji, 20 August 2012
Report
At the invitation of Jitoko Tikolevu, CEO of the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority (FRCA), Kunio Mikuriya, the Secretary General of the WCO, visited Suva, Fiji on 20 August 2012 for the opening ceremony of the WCO Regional Training Centre (RTC) hosted by the FRCA.
After the traditional ceremony, Fiji’s Prime Minister, Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, spoke about the importance he attached to Customs and regional cooperation with the expectation that the RTC would promote Customs reform in the region.
The Secretary General stressed that the new RTC would enhance Customs’ capability by strengthening the professionalism of its human network across the Pacific islands, as well as its partnership with business and other border agencies to properly discharge its widening mission.
Secretary General Mikuriya also appreciated the strong political support for the RTC and Customs modernization in Fiji shown by the presence of the Prime Minister who started his professional career as young Customs officer in the 1970's before pursuing a military career.
Following the opening ceremony, the first WCO Sub-Regional Workshop on Post Clearance Audit (PCA) was held with the support of the WCO Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB) in Bangkok and the Oceania Customs Organization (OCO).
In his opening speech to Workshop participants, the Secretary General underlined the importance of the new PCA Compendium that had been added to the WCO Revenue Package this year.
Separately, Secretary General Mikuriya had a round table session with FRCA middle managers to discuss the priorities and direction of Customs in Fiji. He also visited the OCO Secretariat to discuss regional needs and the way forward to enhance cooperation.