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About Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) Secretariat

The Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) was established by Heads of Oceania Customs Administrations in August 1998 to promote efficiency and effectiveness in all aspects of Regional Customs Administrations. The OCO has a membership of 24 countries and territories from the Pacific region, and its principal activity is facilitating and where appropriate helping member administrations align with customs international standards and best practice, leading to greater economic prosperity and increased border security within the Oceania region.

The ultimate objective of OCO is to assist its Member administrations to develop the following core capabilities:

  • Sound legal framework;
  • Intelligence-based risk and information management;
  • Modern procedures, techniques, technology and equipment;
  • Strategic partnerships – Government and business;
  • Professional organisation – capabilities and culture.

This will be based on a modernisation framework that will be driven by Customs leadership and include updated legislation, best practice, a culture of integrity and excellence, modern IT systems enabling single window applications and a communications and information sharing strategy that links Members together.

Priority 1

Customs Leadership

Priority 2

Law Enforcement and Border Security

Priority 3

Trade Management and Facilitation

Priority 4

Revenue Mobilisation

Priority 5

Institutional Strengthening of Small Member Administrations

Priority 1

Customs Leadership

Overall Objective: Enhance the Leadership capability to enable Customs’ modernisation reforms

Develop and strengthen Members’ leadership capabilities at executive management and supervisory levels

* Strengthen the implementation of the current OCO Professional Standards Framework (OPSF).
* Facilitate executive and management programmes with a continued focus on women in leadership
* Develop mentoring and internship programmes and modules
* Develop front line supervision training
* Develop a train the trainer program
* Provide ethics and governance training

Strengthen organisational development for the future

* Conduct annual training needs analysis for individual Members
* Facilitate and promote the use of relevant WCO and OCO E-learning modules
* Develop a Gender Equality Plan for Customs
* Policy and Legislative skill development
* Develop a pathway to be a recognised accredited Customs training provider
* Secretariat and Member engagement at regional and international forums.
* Build and maintain a Customs Expert database

Strengthen succession planning

  • * Development of executive and leadership courses for Member administrations
  • * Conduct a regional workshop on Corporate Governance and Succession Planning for Member administrations