From 15 to 18 December 2014 in Faridabad near New Delhi (India), the World Customs Organization (WCO) held a National Workshop to raise awareness of and prepare for the Time Release Study (TRS).  This four-day Workshop was organized, with financial support from the Japan Customs Co-operation Fund (CCF/Japan), for the benefit of managerial staff from the Indian Customs Administration. The Workshop was led by two Experts from the WCO Secretariat in Brussels and from the Asia/Pacific Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB A/P). The topics they presented to participants included the methodology for conducting the Study and for mapping procedures, the national experiences of some countries having already conducted the Study and the use of the WCO TRS Software.

Over 27 managerial staff from all the five main regions of the Indian Customs Administration took part in the Workshop. To foster awareness among border stakeholders, the participants and experts visited the Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Tughlakabad (one of the country's largest). This visit comprised a working session during which presentations were given by representatives of the dry port manager (CONCOR) and by Customs brokers to provide participants with an in-depth understanding of the procedures culminating in the removal of goods. The maritime carriers' union also took part in this awareness-raising meeting.

The level of attendance at the event reflects the importance placed on this initiative by India's Customs Administration and its major players in the Customs clearance domain. All the participants applauded the quality of the presentations and especially appreciated the support given by the WCO to the Indian Customs Administration.

The Workshop proceedings led to a detailed action plan and proposal to set up a team tasked with carrying out the Study in early 2015.