The WCO-Japan Career Development Programme (CDP) for 2024-2025 officially commenced on Tuesday, 3 September 2024. Nine Customs officials from Cape Verde, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Maldives, Peru, Timor-Leste, Tunisia and Zambia have embarked on their 10-month journey at the WCO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. These participants will work as Professional Associates (PAs), contributing to research, analysis, and various other tasks within their assigned Directorates at the Secretariat.

WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders warmly welcomed the new cohort of Professional Associates during a roundtable meeting on 16 September 2024. He emphasized the importance of harnessing their unique expertise to make meaningful contributions to the Organization, while encouraging them to apply their newfound knowledge and skills to drive positive change within their home administrations after completing the Programme. He also highlighted the value of cultivating professional networks with their global peers and wished them great success throughout the Programme. 

The CDP, launched in 2009 in collaboration with Japan Customs, continues to offer a platform for officers from Customs administrations around the world to engage in a wide array of technical areas. Over the past 15 years, 133 officers from 84 Customs administrations have taken part in this prestigious initiative, enhancing their professional competencies and contributing to the global Customs community.