Singapore hosts four-nation joint customs training program

Singapore Customs hosted a joint training program for 20 middle-management officers from the customs administrations of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore from August 15 to 18, according to a media release from Singapore Customs on Thursday.

The Joint Customs Middle Management Program (JCMMP) marks the first time Singapore Customs has brought together middle managers from the four customs administrations for joint training.

Tapping on the strengths of each customs administration, the program featured trainers from all four customs administrations to enhance the participants' knowledge and competencies in key customs domains such as digital customs, customs procedures, trade facilitation, enforcement, and compliance.

"The program not only enhances the inter-country relationships, it also promotes more knowledge exchange and the sharing of best practices, to update the officers on key developments and challenges faced by the participating customs administrations," said Karen Lim, Singapore Customs' chief human resource officer and director of Singapore Customs Academy.

As a commitment to continued collaboration in capacity-building, the heads of the customs administrations of Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Malaysia also signed a joint statement on Thursday committing to hold the JCMMP on an annual basis.

"The signing of the joint statement on the JCMMP signifies the strong ties and close cooperation among our four customs administrations," said Director-General of Singapore Customs, Ho Chee Pong. "It also reaffirms our strong commitment to jointly level up the competency of our customs middle managers to address the challenges ahead."

According to the statement, the four customs administrations will take turns to host the annual program. Next year's program will be organized and hosted by Indonesia's Directorate General of Customs and Excise. Endit