The World Customs Organization (WCO) in collaboration with the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, successfully concluded a training targeting nineteen (19) AEO experts from the EAC region. The training, which was conducted in the framework of the WCO-EAC CREATe Project funded by Sweden, took place from7 to 9 May 2018 in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

The training was delivered in two sessions and covered key topics relating to the validation and post-validation processes. Session I of the course was successfully conducted in June 2017, while Session II of the training, which took place this time, provided the opportunity to successfully pilot the newly developed AEO Post Authorization Management Material.

Mr. Juma Bakari opened the workshop on behalf of the Commissioner Customs of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA). He reiterated Tanzania’s commitment towards the regional AEO programme, which he believes will modernize Customs in the EAC region and enhance regional Customs efforts towards the realization of efficiency in Customs operations, trade facilitation and the management of international trade supply chain security within the region.

At the award of certificates to the successful applicants, Mr. Stephen Analo, who represented the EAC Director General Customs and Trade, deeply thanked the WCO for its valuable support and emphasized the importance that the EAC Secretariat attached to the development of experts in the EAC region. He commended the long and fruitful relationship that exists between the EAC and the WCO, which has facilitated the region to build capacities in many other areas, including Risk Management, Post Clearance Audit, Valuation, and enforcement of CITES. He informed the participants that the certificates awarded to them were a sign that they have been trained and recognized as experts and that their successes will be measured by the number of new experts they will produce.

Indeed, the AEO experts, drawn from the EAC countries of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, will in turn train other experts in their respective countries as a means of expanding the pool of experts for the effective administration and sustenance of the regional AEO programme.

For further information on this activity or on the WCO-EAC CREATe Project funded by Sweden, please contact the WCO-Sweden Programme Director Mr. Richard Chopra (Richard.Chopra@wcoomd.org)