Customs officers from across the Pacific are in Nadi to sharpen their expertise in automated customs clearances.
The two-week ASYCUDA Regional Functional Training will equip 17 officers with advanced skills to navigate ASYCUDAWorld more efficiently, enhancing cargo clearance processes and improving service delivery.
The workshop is supported by the European Union funded Improving Pacific Islands Customs and Trade (IMPACT) Project implemented by the UN Trade and Development.
The programme will focus on processing declarations, managing manifests, applying selectivity controls, and troubleshooting common issues key areas critical for trade facilitation and compliance.
According to Ms. Falesala Kofe, the Acting Director for Tuvalu Customs, the workshop will help understand the details of ASYCUDAWorld and how it is used from an administration perspective for data and reporting.
“As a senior officer, it is important to know the in and out of ASYCUDA and so I am looking forward to the practical sessions on ASYCUDA where I get to use the system and experience it,” Ms. Kofe said.
The capacity building will further enable Ms. Kofe to share skills and knowledge on the efficient use of ASYCUDA with staff and stakeholders.
Additionally, the refresher training addresses operational challenges faced by administrations, particularly those impacted by staff rotation and migration, ensuring a broader pool of skilled users.
Mr. Jedidiah Amos, the Design and Monitoring Officer at the Vanuatu Customs and Inland Revenue, the training is an introduction to the ASYCUDAWorld System.
As a new staff at the Vanuatu Customs, Mr. Amos said, “With my role, I recently started working with the Customs team who use ASYCUDA and therefore, this workshop will help me get familiar with the system.”
Mr. Amos added this capacity building will enable him to support the customs team promptly with their daily operation.
Participants will learn best practices for data entry, document validation, and resolving frequent issues independently.
Furthermore, participants will be introduced to the recent system updates, patches, and new features in the ASYCUDAWorld system that could be implemented for further efficiencies in the processes.
Officers from countries using older versions of ASYCUDA will benefit through new guidance provided, enhanced selectivity rules, improved reporting tools, and other system enhancements.
By the end of the course, participants are expected to confidently perform core ASYCUDA functions, align with current procedures, and apply the latest tools to strengthen trade efficiency and revenue collection across the Pacific.
Currently, 15 Island States in the Region are using the UN Trade and Development backed ASYCUDAWorld system – automizing customs processes and driving efficiency, transparency and smoothened trade facilitation.
