Regional Training Centres constitute one of the key components of the regional approach. Forming virtually independent and autonomous entities, the regions are best placed to identify and respond to their Members’ training needs. This type of training, which is broader in scope than that offered to individual countries, makes it possible to pool and optimize resources within a single region. Such centres offer a number of advantages: they enable Customs officials from neighboring countries to forge links with one another and, they facilitate the follow-up of WCO programmes in a region.
To date, thirty-two (32) Regional Training Centres (RTCs) have been established:
- One (1) in the Americas Region (Dominican Republic);
- Ten (10) in the Asia Pacific Region (China; Fiji; Hong Kong, China; India; Indonesia; Iran; Japan; Korea; Malaysia; Thailand)
- Four (4) in the East and Southern Africa Region (Kenya; Mauritius; South Africa; Zimbabwe),
- Seven (7) in the European Region (Azerbaijan; Hungary; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; North Macedonia; Russian Federation; Ukraine),
- Seven (7) in the North Africa, Near and Middle East Region (Egypt; Jordan; Kuwait; Lebanon; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Tunisia).
- Three (3) in the West and Central Africa Region (Burkina Faso; Congo (Rep. of); Nigeria),