Under the sponsorship of the Customs Cooperation Fund of Japan (CCF-Japan), the World Customs Organization organised, in close cooperation with Japan Customs, a pre-Accreditation Workshop for Expert Trainers (ETs) on Rules of Origin (RoO) for the Asia Pacific Region. The event was held at the WCO Regional Training Center (RTC) in Kashiwa, Japan from 8th to 12th May 2023. This workshop was organised as part of the strategic approach taken by the WCO aiming at expanding the pool of WCO experts in order to respond to the needs expressed by the WCO Members on Rules of Origin in a time manner.

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Yoshihiro KOSAKA, Managing Director of Customs Training Institute (CTI), WCO Regional Training Centre, warmly welcomed all participants. In his remarks, he emphasized the growing demand for quality Rules of Origin experts to support the needs of WCO members, based on the expansion of Free Trade Agreements, Economic Partnership Agreements or Regional Trade Agreements. 

The workshop was attended by twelve participants invited from Asia-Pacific region. They were assessed on their relevant technical knowledge and application, presentation and facilitation skills, communication and advisory skills, overall knowledge on key WCO tools and instruments and their team working capabilities.

Throughout the intensive five-day workshop, a good number demonstrated their knowledge, skills, techniques and, most importantly, enthusiasm to contribute to the capacity building activities to be made by the WCO in the future. Successful participants at the workshop will be invited to the next stage of the WCO expert accreditation process, an in-field mission. It is expected that those participants who successfully complete the accreditation process will be added to the pool of experts and work together with the WCO for the benefit of Members who request technical assistance from the WCO in the area of Rules of Origin.

For more information, please, contact: ori@wcoomd.org and capacity.building@wcoomd.org.