Regional training centers play an important role in modernization and improving capacities of customs administrations. Standing as the very first regional training center accredited by the World Customs Organization on 7th June 2001, the Regional Training Center (RTC) Budapest in Hungary served as an example for the current network of regional structures consisting of 29 RTCs today.
In this context, the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary hosted a ceremony on 6th December 2021 on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the Lt. Gen. Mihály Arnold Regional Training Center of the World Customs Organization in Budapest.
At the invitation of Mr. Ferenc Vágujhelyi, State Secretary and Commissioner of the National Tax and Customs Administration (NTCA) of Hungary, ROCB Europe participated to the event and represented at top level by Mr. Eser Çengel, Director. Mr. Vágujhelyi himself; together with Brigadier General Kristóf Péter Bakai, Director General for Customs; Mr. Gerassimos Thomas, Director General of the European Commission DG TAXUD and officials from the NTCA attended the event.
Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, WCO Secretary General participated through a video message and highlighted the significant role of the RTC in the WCO’s capacity building activities.
Throughout the Ceremony, a concert by the Chamber Orchestra of the NTCA with a slideshow commemorating the 20 years of RTC Budapest was also carried out.
Since its establishment, RTC Budapest has hosted a number of regional seminars and trainings in Budapest for example in the field of intellectual property rights, coordinated border management, Authorized Economic Operators, trade facilitation, trade control, smart customs seals or e-commerce. Moreover, in cooperation with the National University of Public Service and with the involvement of the WCO Secretariat 7 successful international academic conferences were held to discuss different aspects of tax and customs cooperation.
These trainings, conferences and other bilateral and multilateral events hosted by the RTC have facilitated customs professionalism as well as mutual cooperation and partnership among customs administrations of the Europe Region.
More information about the RTC Budapest is readily available on the ROCB Europe web site.
