The Kookmin Institute of Governance Strategies (KIGS) of Kookmin University, led by its Director, Professor Seong-gul Hong, held the 1st Executive Programme in Customs and Business Administration (EPCBA Programme). This event, held in Room 401 of Administration Hall at 11 a.m. on May 19, 2015, was for the benefit of high-level customs authorities from developing countries.

This scholarship program is an educational support program that utilizes and promotes Customs Cooperation Fund Korea (CCF Korea) that assists in modernization of customs administration in developing countries. With the supervision of World Customs Organization (WCO) and Kookmin University, the Programme this year was held for seven weeks until July 3rd.

During the opening ceremony of the executive program, about 50 people attended which included President Ji-soo Yu of Kookmin University, Commissioner Nak-hoe Kim of Korea Customs Service, Director Erich Kieck of WCO Capacity Building Directorate, Director Seong-gul Hong of Kookmin Institute of Governance Strategies, and 11 management-level officials of customs administrations and ambassadors of the participating developing countries.

The Executive Programme in Customs and Business Administration of WCO-Korea was first suggested by the Korea Customs Service and introduced to the management-level officials of customs administrations in developing countries. The program is composed of: lectures on administration, finance, international economy, and customs administration (four weeks); professional WCO leadership program (two weeks); and field trip (one week).

In the past, there have been scholarship programs supervised by Japan that focused on working-level officials of customs administrations; however, there was no program specifically designed for management-level officials with the right kind of policy-making strategies.

In his welcome address, President Yu said, “I believe that this opening ceremony for the executive program is a good start for building cooperative and amicable relationship among the officials in the field of global level customs administration. During the seven-week program, I hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to acquire extensive knowledge on international trade and business management. I also hope that as participants in this program, you will be the champions of customs administration in your own countries.”

Through his congratulatory address, Commissioner Nak-hoe Kim of Korea Customs Service said, “I will provide the opportunity for the participants to experience advanced customs administration system of Korea that includes the ‘Universal Pass’ and ‘single window system.’ We will also impart professional knowledge on customs administration, as well as principles of finance and management during the learning period.”

This scholarship program provided by the Korea Customs Service is expected to become the representative program targeting WCO’s management-level officials and accordingly, it plans to promote various projects to cultivate customs capabilities of the developing countries.