The 2014/2015 WCO Career Development Programme started in Brussels at WCO Headquarters on Thursday 18 September 2014. 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 Members’ participation and involvement in various WCO activities, particularly where neither of the two official WCO languages is widely spoken.
Eight Customs officials - from Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mozambique, Peru, Thailand, Togo and Turkey – will be working at the WCO Secretariat over the next 10 months in various professional capacities. They will contribute to vital WCO projects and activities during their time at the WCO.
WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya welcomed the eight officials to the WCO Secretariat and voiced his hope and expectation that they would be able to enhance their knowledge and skills, derive benefit from work experience in an international environment, and establish new networks. He wished them every success in the Programme.