On the occasion of the 65th Anniversary of the World Customs Organization (WCO), the WCO-Japan Career Development Programme (CDP) organized a reunion of its alumni from 5 to 8 July. During its eight years of operation, the Programme has given 65 Customs officers from 45 different countries the opportunity to work at the WCO as Professional Associates (PAs).
Forty former PAs representing 33 WCO Member administrations are attending the reunion. On the opening day of the event, the WCO Secretary General, Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, and the Director General of Japan Customs, Mr. Mikio Kajikawa, addressed the reunion participants and sat in on the discussion focusing on the Programme’s achievements and prospects.
CDP alumni attending the reunion are enjoying a unique opportunity to exchange views between different generations and share their experiences gained during and after the Programme, both with each other and with their WCO colleagues. The reunion is yet another initiative organized by the CDP to further promote cooperation and collaboration between Customs specialists from different countries and regions.