26-28 February 2025, Brussels, Belgium

The 16th session of the Capacity Building Committee was held in Brussels from 26-28 February 2025, bringing delegates from around the world both in person and virtually. This year the meeting was held under the theme of ‘Reimagining the WCO Capacity-Building Paradigm – Thriving with Strategic Purpose and Resource Optimization’. Mr. Jun Tajima, Head of ROCB A/P and his ROCB A/P colleagues attended the meeting.

ROCB A/P reported to the Committee on the progress of the Compendium on Training Management in Asia-Pacific Region. ROCB A/P successfully conducted 3 Sub-Regional Workshop and 1 Regional Workshop throughout the A/P region in 2024, compiling good practices and challenges from AP Members. During the report, the ROCB A/P highlighted how the ROCB can contribute to as a bridge between the WCO and Members: making a Compendium that connects the WCO Tools that could be too advanced to apply, with neighbouring Members’ practices which can be more achievable. This compendium was highly regarded by Members attended the CBC; it will be present to the Head of Customs Administration Conference of A/P Region in May 2025.

The Committee were presented the new capacity building paradigm and it align with the WCO Theme for 2025, “Customs delivering on its commitment to efficiency, security and prosperity” and were provided information on the outcomes of the self-assessment phase of the 1st cycle of the Performance Measurement Mechanism (PMM) and the WCO Expert Management and Accreditation policy. During the Secretariat’s presentation on the Implementing the WCO Distance Learning Strategy, Ms. Asuka Nagamatsu, Program Manager, made an intervention on the ROCB A/P’s active role in encouraging Members in leveraging e-learning platform, and Mr. Jaemin Cho, Program Manager, commented on Virtual Reality Training (VRT), and the updates on the WCO Data strategic initiatives including the BACUDA Project, and the Smart Customs Project about ROCB A/P’s active involvement.

Another key topic was the new WCO Regionalization approach with a view to the roles and responsibilities of the regional entities in the new WCO capacity-building paradigm. During the meeting, ROCB A/P demonstrated our support to the WCO through various approaches, including organized the workshops, and actively participating in the meeting to remain updates with the WCO initiatives and updates the Members.

In the Gender Equality and Diversity sessions, Ms. Grace Ye, Program Manager, ROCB A/P highlighted its role in promoting these initiatives. As Ms. Aksara Mackhawiman, Assistant Program Manager of the ROCB A/P, serves as a regional focal point for the GED, we regularly attend the Virtual Working Group and the Global Conferences to stay updates on the policy development.

As WCO adopting its modernization and capacity building initiatives, ROCB A/P continues to leverage our regional expertise and active involvement to support WCO in achieving the strategic goals and provide support to Members in the Asia Pacific Region.