2-6 November 2020, Bangkok Thailand

In collaboration with the WCO, the ROCB A/P organized the WCO Sub-regional Virtual Workshop on Post Clearance Audit (PCA) for ASEAN on 2-6 November 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand, under the sponsorship of Customs Cooperation Fund Japan (CCF/Japan). 37 promising officials nominated by 8 ASEAN Members namely, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam as participants, as well as over 20 observers attended the workshop.  During the workshop, PCA experts from the WCO, Japan Customs and Mr. Ilkwon HAN (Gideon) of ROCB A/P led the sessions.  Ms. Chloe Au, Program Manager of ROCB A/P, also contributed and facilitated in the whole workshop.

The virtual workshop was designed to enhance Members’ competencies on PCA and offer assistance in identifying the gap between their current capacity and practical application at international standards.  The workshop started by giving an overview of the WCO’s concept and policy on PCA to foster the fundamental understanding of PCA framework.  The experts then continued to introduce the crucial factors for implementing effective PCA work, including risk assessment and targeting, data analytics, customs-business partnership and capacity building, etc.  In addition, participants shared their current PCA practices and the challenges they are facing with.  Led by the experts, participants actively discussed the way forward in carrying out the PCA work at their home administrations more effectively, from legal perspective, practical auditing to follow-up investigation.

At the workshop, Ms. Chloe Au gave an overview of the ROCB A/P to the participants with focuses on the key capacity building strategies in the region, especially in response to the adverse impact of COVID-19.  Participants were also encouraged to conduct a pre-study in the WCO e-learning platform, CLiKC! before the workshop, actively participate during the workshop and take follow-up actions after the workshop.  The virtual workshop was concluded with applause and appreciations to the WCO, the ROCB A/P, the Japan Customs and the facilitators for their contribution and support.

This is the first virtual workshop organized by the ROCB A/P since the outbreak of COVID-19.  Taking into consideration of the development of the pandemic, the ROCB A/P will continue to organize virtual workshops in the near future to address the capacity building needs of A/P Members.  Having said that, the ROCB A/P is ready to resume organizing the face-to-face workshops once the unfavorable situation is relieved.

For more information, please write to us at rocb@rocbap.org.