A senior officer in Antigua and Barbuda’s Customs and Excise Division has been highlighted by the World Customs Organization (WCO) as the organisation marked the conclusion of its Small Island Economies (SIEs) Scholarship Programme.
Salim Browne, a Senior Customs Officer, was among 30 officials from 19 small island nations selected to participate in the initiative, which delivered three intensive editions of academic and practical training between 2023 and 2025. Browne represented Antigua and Barbuda throughout the programme, which the WCO says is designed to strengthen customs capacity, leadership and technical expertise within vulnerable island economies.
The SIEs Scholarship Programme, funded through the WCO-Customs Cooperation Fund-Korea, focused on core areas of modern customs administration, including risk management, border security, trade facilitation and international cooperation. Participants received structured training over a three-month period in each edition, blending classroom instruction with field-based learning.
The WCO noted that the programme was created to help small island states respond more effectively to the pressures of global trade, emerging security risks and rapid technological change. With limited resources and high dependence on imports, the organisation says customs agencies in small island economies face unique operational challenges.
Antigua and Barbuda’s Customs and Excise Division has praised Browne’s contribution, stating that his participation strengthens the country’s ongoing efforts to modernise its customs systems and align national practices with international standards. The Division said the skills gained through the programme will support work already underway to improve service delivery, enhance border protection and streamline trade processes.
The final edition of the scholarship brought together officials from across the Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Pacific, including representatives from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Papua New Guinea, the Maldives and Seychelles.
The WCO described the conclusion of the programme as a significant milestone in its capacity-building agenda, adding that the network formed among participating officers is expected to support long-term cooperation among small island customs administrations.
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