Imagine a robust team of local experts capable of independently enhancing customs professionalism across Pacific Island nations, driving regional trade prosperity. This vision is becoming reality through the collaborative efforts of the World Customs Organization (WCO) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under their innovative Master Trainer Programme (MTP), which plants the seeds for sustainable customs capacity building.
With crucial support from Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) Regional Training Centre, the third working group session for Pacific Island nations focusing on Customs Valuation (CV) and Harmonized System (HS) classification successfully concluded in Suva, Fiji from November 7-12, 2022. The event marked significant progress in empowering regional customs administrations.
MTP: Building Self-Sustaining Training Capacity
The program's core objective centers on developing high-caliber trainers and regionally tailored training materials to establish autonomous capacity in critical customs operations. MTP employs a distinctive methodology: selecting dedicated participants from various customs administrations who undergo systematic training through five working group sessions and intersessional activities over 2-3 years.
This long-term investment ensures participants master both technical expertise and pedagogical skills, ultimately qualifying as autonomous Master Trainers. These professionals will serve as national training pillars, responsible for onboarding new customs officers and continuously upgrading existing personnel.
Suva Session: Advancing Training Materials Development
The Suva gathering represented the third of five planned working group sessions. Twenty-four participants from six WCO member administrations - Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu - engaged in intensive curriculum development for CV and HS training programs.
WCO and Japanese customs experts delivered specialized lectures, deepening participants' technical understanding while equipping them with instructional material development methodologies. The sessions blended theoretical frameworks with practical case studies and best practices, enabling participants to bridge academic knowledge with operational realities.
Iterative Curriculum Enhancement
The training materials undergo continuous refinement through an iterative process. Participants initiated preliminary development during the session and will progressively enhance content quality during intersessional periods before the next working group meeting. This phased approach ensures final outputs meet practical operational requirements while maintaining instructional effectiveness.
Upon completion, these materials will serve as essential tools for Master Trainers to conduct standardized training programs, systematically elevating regional customs competencies.
Collaborative Model for Regional Capacity Building
The WCO-JICA partnership exemplifies effective international cooperation, combining WCO's technical expertise with JICA's financial support to strengthen Pacific Islands' customs infrastructure. Beyond professional development, the initiative facilitates regional trade modernization.
Through MTP, Pacific Island nations are progressively establishing a self-reliant network of certified customs trainers. This growing cadre of professionals will drive continuous improvement in regional customs administration, enabling more effective responses to global trade challenges and contributing to economic development.