The 2016/2017 WCO Career Development Programme commenced in Brussels at WCO Headquarters on Thursday 15 September 2016.

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 in various WCO activities, particularly where neither of the two official WCO languages is widely spoken.  

Ten Customs officials - from Angola, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Cambodia, Guinea, Mexico, Mongolia, Senegal and Ukraine - have started their term at the WCO Secretariat where they will work for the next 10 months in various professional capacities.  Participants will contribute to vital WCO projects and activities during their time at the WCO.

WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya welcomed the ten officials to the WCO Secretariat and expressed his expectation that they will increase their knowledge, enhance their skills, gain international work experience and create new networks. He wished them every success in this important Programme.