Investing in the future: building the capacity

of Customs authorities

      September 30 - October 4, 2024, Astana hosts the 1st meeting of the Master Trainers Program (MTR) working group on risk management with the participation of representatives of the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan).

The event is aimed at strengthening the potential of customs personnel in risk management, researching the time of release of goods, as well as developing competencies to work as trainers.

Zhandos Duisembiyev - Chairman of the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Motohiro Fujimitsu - Manager of the WCO-JICA Joint Program of the WCO Directorate for Capacity Building and Seiichi Negishi - representative of the head office of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) delivered a welcoming speech at the opening ceremony.

Mr. Zh. Duisembiyev noted that investments in training and advanced training of customs officers play a predominant role in improving their ability to effectively perform their duties.

Technological progress, global supply chains and changing trade patterns require us to adapt and innovate in order to effectively accomplish our tasks.

The training of qualified specialists will effectively contribute to the promotion of trade facilitation.

In order to maintain high standards of education, exchange best practices and introduce the latest educational technologies, constant coordination and cooperation with the World Customs Organization is carried out.

The World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have developed Master Training Program (MTP) as a form of technical cooperation. The program is being implemented through close cooperation between the two organizations and through interaction with customs administrations in order to develop more sustainable training capacity on a range of key issues necessary for customs modernization.

Within the framework of the program, the members of the working group will study relevant topics on the risk management system and the study of the time of release of goods, discuss common sub-regional problems and develop a work plan for MTP.

Upon completion of the course, the Customs services will have at their disposal instructors, training materials, as well as a training program to independently conduct the necessary training for customs specialists at the national level.