The 2015/2016 WCO Career Development Programme commenced in Brussels at WCO Headquarters on Thursday 3 September 2015. 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.

Ten Customs officials from Albania, Angola, Gabon, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Moldova, Pakistan, Peru and Vietnam start 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 Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya welcomed the ten officials to the WCO Secretariat and expressed his expectation that they will gain knowledge, skills and international work experience, and will create new networks. He wished them a great success in the programme.