06 Oct 2015

Botswana Unified revenue service (BURS) senior management team is engaged in a two week long, leadership and management development training workshop facilitated by the World Customs Organization (WCO).

Speaking on behalf of the BURS Commissioner General, BURS General Manager - Corporate Planning and Communications Mr Gaitsiwe Motsewabagale said, the workshop comes at the time when BURS is fully engaged in transformation process, particularly the customs modernization.

He noted that the customs modernization entails the development of a new modern customs act, procurement of a new customs management system, which he said would lead to new way of conducting BURS business.

Mr Motsewabagale therefore stressed that the objectives of the workshop was to strengthen senior management capacity to lead and drive reforms within BURS transformation and modernization agenda.

Furthermore he said the workshop is expected to expose managers to a series of modern management practices and to plant the seed for individual development qualities.

He highlighted that the demands of globalization and modernization require a greater understanding from political, economic and trading environment in which the revenue services and in particular customs, is expected to operate.

He said managers as process drivers require a distinct set of skill, knowledge and behavior which could only be delivered through a more professional approach.

In his remarks a facilitator from the Finnish Customs Mr Mika Poutiainen said, modernization is a key thing for World Customs Organization and for many individual organizations around the world.

He said many members of the world customs organization has realized that recognizing investment in the modernization is the key thing, stressing that modernisation  could  only occur in developed customs administration. 

He noted that people were the ones who make the organization; therefore he said it demands a lot of investment and development of people as it requires them to be supporting.

Mr Poutiainen said the leadership and management program is focused in improving the abilities to lead people, to set a strategic vision as well as making the best possible decision based on internal and external condition of the administration.

Some of the topic to be covered at the workshop includes among others, elements of a modern customs administration, and promotion of integrity. Ends