Suva, Fiji, March 08, 2024:
Between 29 January to 2 February 2024, the Oceania Customs Organization (OCO) hosted a Master Trainer Program on Customs Valuation and Harmonised System Classification Workshop in Nadi, Fiji.
The week-long learning was an opportunity for over 20 customs experts from the Pacific Island Countries to polish practical knowledge on Customs Valuation and HS classification as part of strengthening customs and trade capacities of their country.
Aligned with the theme of this year’s International Customs Day, ‘engaging traditional and new partners with purpose’, the workshop was generously supported by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the European Union funded United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Improving Pacific Islands Customs and Trade (IMPACT) project.
This workshop was a follow on from the one conducted in Samoa in August last year answering to the needs of our members to have more trainings in the area of HS. As a result of increase in international trade within the region, the member Pacific Island Countries have requested for continuous trainings to gain better understanding on classification of goods in the international trade
An important topic covered at the workshop was the General Interruptive Rules of HS (GIR). GIR is part of the nomenclatures that form the entire HS system of classification. This helps to classify any goods and products in international trade.
“The understanding and mastering of nomenclatures and customs valuations is an essential part of any trade-related activities and Customs Valuations and Harmonised Systems have indeed been identified amongst the top priorities for capacity building by our Pacific partners,” said Dr. Erja Askola, Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific.
UNCTAD Regional Coordinator for ASYCUDA in the Pacific Mr. Jayvee Santos highlighted the long history of partnership with OCO and the need for continued collaboration to ease trade facilitation in the Pacific through such capacity building workshops.
The Head of Secretariat at the Oceania Customs Organization, Ms. Nancy T. Oraka said, “We were excited to collaborate with the WCO, UNCTAD, and the IMPACT Project to host this important workshop.”
“This program not only enhanced the skills of Customs professionals in the Pacific region but also contributed to the development of effective customs practices.”
ENDS
For more information, queries, or interview requests, please email MediaOCO@ocosec.org
About OCO: OCO is a grouping of 23 customs administrations in the Pacific region. It facilitates regional cooperation, information sharing and capacity building of its members with the overall target of supporting economic growth and improved border security in the Pacific.