The WCO Strategic Trade Control Enforcement (STCE) Programme has been delivering virtual trainings and webinars since June 2020, continuing to support WCO members in their fight against illicit trafficking of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and related items also in times when travels and physical meetings have not been allowed.
Following the numerous requests from members to receive further training in the area of STCE Risk Management, the STCE Team organized in October 2020 two targeting webinars in English. Given the success of that event and the subsequent growing interest in the subject, the WCO decided to organise similar webinars in different languages, the first of which has been conducted in Russian from 2 to 4 March 2021.
This webinar was focused on the experiences of Central Asian and Caucasus Countries to supplement national STCE training events planned for countries in the sub region, and also in preparation of the strategic trade focused Cosmo Operation, which is planned to be carried out in the same region during the second half of 2021. For this reason, during the first day of the webinar, alongside the WCO Risk Management tools and instruments, participants were also presented with the experience and findings of the previous global and regional Cosmo Operations.
Thanks to the support of STCE Experts from the Customs Administrations of Ukraine and the United Kingdom, the attendees had the opportunity to be confronted with different national experiences and case studies, before they could test their own knowledge and skills through a group exercise on the third and last day.
The Director of Compliance and Facilitation, Mr. Pranab Kumar Das, delivered some kindly closing remarks, highlighting the importance of ongoing learning and of adapting to different formats and realities, because security threats are always present and Customs Administrations need to be constantly vigilant and prepared to effectively combat illicit trafficking of strategic goods.
The STCE Programme conducted an additional Risk Management webinar from 9 to 11 March 2021, addressed to Latin American Administration with a mature STC system, in Spanish, and is planning to deliver similar events in the following months. For more information, please contact WCOSecurityProgramme@wcoomd.org.