The 21st session of the Virtual Customs Orientation Academy (VCOA) came to a successful conclusion on 6 June 2025. The online programme aimed at French-speaking Customs officers provided participants with an invaluable opportunity to enhance their knowledge in various areas of Customs operations.

A group of 20 Customs officers from all 6 WCO regions participated in the 14-week programme run on the CLiKC! platform. Through online modules and written assignments, the participants explored the roles and responsibilities of Customs and the use of WCO instruments and tools. They also benefited from a series of live sessions delivered by WCO Secretariat staff and Member experts. These sessions covered the essential topics of Integrity in Customs, WCO's instruments and tools for Trade Facilitation and Customs control procedures.

A special note of thanks goes to the nine WCO accredited experts from the Customs authorities of China, France, Gabon, Japan, Mauritius, Senegal and Tunisia. Their expertise and dedication were instrumental in delivering high-quality education and support to the participants throughout the programme. In this way, the VCOA programme stands as a testament to the WCO's commitment to fostering professional growth and excellence within the Customs community.

The next VCOA session aimed at English-speaking Customs officers is scheduled to take place from 15 September to 19 December 2025. Eligible English-speaking Customs officers are invited to apply before 18 August 2025. Find out more about the programme and how to apply here.

For more information, please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org.