The WCO and HUFS launched the first Small Island Economies (SIEs) Scholarship Programme on Monday, 5th June 2023. This initiative, financially supported by CCF-Korea, aims to enhance the capabilities of young and promising Customs officers from SIEs.
The programme is specifically designed to benefit ten Customs officers from SIEs, spanning a period of twelve weeks. During this time, participants will delve into theoretical frameworks and engage in cross-cultural learning experiences.
At the opening ceremony, participants were warmly welcomed by Dr. Taeil KANG, Director of the Capacity Building Directorate at the WCO, Dr. Jeong-Woon Park, President of HUFS, and Ms. Hee Min, Head of the International Cooperation Division of the Korea Customs Service. All the speakers encouraged the passionate participants seeking to expand their knowledge and practical skills in the field of Customs to actively engage in discussions and debates. They expressed their full support for the scholarship programme.
The curriculum of the program offers a wide range of courses that cover practical information and theoretical frameworks. It includes core courses taught by experienced academic faculty, practical courses provided by the Korean Customs Service through lectures and workshops, as well as sessions conducted by the WCO experts that focus on WCO tools and instruments for SIEs. Prominent domain experts, professors, and WCO staff are invited to deliver these topics.
The WCO has developed the Guidance for Customs Administrations in Small Island Economies to address their unique challenges and harness their immense trade potential. This comprehensive guide, approved during the 137th Session of the WCO Council, outlines measures to enhance risk management, trade facilitation, security, and revenue collection. The Scholarship Programme was established within this context.
The following countries are participating in the SIEs scholarship programme: Dominican Republic, Fiji, Jamaica, Maldives, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, Sao Tome Principe, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, and Tonga.
The WCO plans to continue providing this programme for officials from SIEs Member administrations.
For more information, please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org.