Customs and IPR: On September 9, USAID STAR Plus met with Mr. Nguyen Duong Thai, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Vietnam Customs and other senior Customs officials to discuss their needs for training of Customs staff on Intellectual Property Rights enforcement. They requested USAID STAR assistance in organizing training on a number of issues including: (1) Information analysis skills using risk management techniques (especially analyzing information that appears on B/L and AWB); (2) Experience on the development of IPR database; (3) Implementation of regulations relating to ex-official requirements for IPR (in compliance with Article 58 of TRIPs). Almost all of their requests fell well within the scope and capabilities of USAID STAR Plus. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a long-time partner of STAR, also pledged to provide support. The Deputy Director General reiterated his strong desire to develop closer ties between his organization and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service.