The OCO facilitated a workshop from 11-15 April 2016 in Suva Fiji aimed at strengthening that capacity for customs administration in customs data management, custom research and national trade statistics.

The Workshop was attended by 15 members of the OCO and brought together key stakeholders including representation of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, United National Conference on Trade & Development, World Bank, Pacific Financial Assistance Centre (PFTAC), Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Melanesian Spearhead Group, Office of the Chief Trade Advisor and New Zealand Statistics.

The participants developed Action Plans to strengthen Customs capacity for data management and trade statistics and also endorsed the proposal to establish regional mechanism for the Harmonised System and the development of a Pacific Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System.