The 2013/2014 WCO Career Development Programme commenced in Brussels at WCO Headquarters on Wednesday 18 September 2013. The Programme was launched in 2009 by the WCO in cooperation with Japan Customs and  provides an opportunity for selected candidates to  work at the WCO Secretariat.  The Programme has the following aims: to enable participants to obtain knowledge, skills and international work experience; to develop and enhance networks between WCO Members and the WCO Secretariat; to support and assist the WCO Secretariat in its mission and work; and to develop a pool of highly competent Customs experts in WCO Member administrations.  The Programme has served to promote the participation of WCO Members,  particularly where neither of the two official WCO languages is widely spoken, in  various WCO activities.  

Seven Customs officials from Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mozambique and Yemen will be working at the WCO Secretariat over the next 10 months in various  professional capacities.  Participants will contribute to vital  WCO projects and activities during their time at the  WCO.

WCO Deputy Secretary General Sergio Mujica welcomed the seven officials to the WCO Secretariat and expressed his expectation that they will gain  knowledge, skills and international work experience, and will create  new networks.