Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 18 April, 2013: Dubai Customs hosted its annual ceremony to honour 224 of most prominent partners from government, semi-government and private entities. The ceremony was held under the theme “You Are Our Pillars of Strength”.
H.E Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation, and H.E Ahmed Butti Ahmed, Executive Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and Director General of Dubai Customs, awarded accredited strategic partners, suppliers and customers.
In the speech he delivered at the ceremony, H.E Ahmed Butti Ahmed said:” Today we celebrate customers, suppliers and strategic partners from international organisations, federal ministries, government departments and authorities and private institutions and companies, as an appreciation of their efforts in realizing Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 and acknowledging their vibrant contributions and strive to implement Dubai Strategic Plan 2015, which aims at turning Dubai into a more attractive destination for living and starting up a business”.
H.E Ahmed Butti announced in his speech the launch of 21 new services to cater to customers and suppliers. They will be launched consecutively this year, adding to the array of initiatives launched by the Department in recent years to contribute in boosting the trade movement growth in the area. The new services are aimed at easing and simplifying procedures, as per a plan followed by the Department to develop its services, offer customers more convenience and save their time and energy, according to best international practices.
The ceremony, held Wednesday evening April 17, 2013 at Madinat Jumeirah, was attended by H.E Lieutenant General Saif Abdullah Al Shafar, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, H.E Nasser Al Badoor, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, Counselor Ibrahim Bu Milha, the Advisor to the Ruler of Dubai for Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs, Deputy Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, Major General Rashid Thani Rashid Al Matroushi, Director of Dubai Civil Defence, H.E Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director & CEO of DEWA, Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality, Dr Ahmed Saeed Bin Hazim, Director General of Dubai Courts, H.E. Hamad Buamim, Director General of Dubai Chamber, H.E Essa Al Maidoor,Director General of the Dubai Health Authority, H.E Mohammad Abdullah Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Salma Hareb, Chief Executive Officer of Economic Zones World and Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of DP World, Khamis Juma Buamim, Chairman of Drydocks World and Maritime World, as well as a number of officials from ministries, federal authorities, local departments and public and private companies, and major partners, customers and suppliers of Dubai Customs.
“Over the years, Dubai Customs has been working diligently on looking after its customers and strategic partners, by launching projects and initiatives that take updates and new changes into account and is more capable of realizing the expectations, requirements and aspirations of the Department’s partners in all customs business fields, in line with its strategic objectives aimed at supporting economic development, boosting Dubai’s position as a worldwide destination for money and business, turning the emirate into a strategic hub for trade movement in general and striving to deliver best services to customers,” Mr Butti emphasized.
“Dubai Customs has recently launched the “Clients’ Ambassadors” initiative, through which we seek to alter the concept of a customer service employee in government work. We will not wait for the customer to request a service or submit a complaint. We will initiate to visit customers in their offices and workplaces and communicate with them in regard of services offered to them, getting their feedback and suggestions for work development, as a kind of appreciation to them as they are a part of our priorities,” he pointed out.
Mr. Butti added that during the last edition of GITEX, Dubai Customs launched the 'Virtual Account' project as a new and innovative choice to facilitate the payment processes of the Department's clients of various categories who use the CDR account. The new system allows clients to perform their payment processes using a new banking solution that saves their time and energy while maintaining the quality of delivered services. It is a step in the technological approach adopted by the Department a long time ago in the systems used by employees or in the services offered to the over than 150 thousand customers from various economic, trade , fright and logistics activities.
“Partners and suppliers have a share in our strategy. MoUs were signed with partners that resulted in implementation of joint initiatives and projects that serve both ends. Honoring suppliers today is a direct message to them reflecting our gratitude and appreciation of the support they give us to run our business efficiently and effectively,” he confirmed.
“We launched a Passenger Charter and a Client Service Charter many years ago. We are happy today to present a Partners Charter and a Suppliers Charter, for the purpose of becoming a highly professional and credible customs department which is transparent in all interactions with its partners and suppliers according to clear policies and work mechanisms,” he added.
He explained that the Partners Charter offers added value to all partners and sets up more efficient follow-up mechanisms via communication channels, as per a work approach run by qualified and competent staff who implement best worldwide practices in the partnership field.
H.E Ahmed Butti concluded his speech by confirming that Dubai Customs will continue to cooperate with all to build a stable, diversified and highly productive economy that ensures prosperity and easy living for current and coming generations and makes Dubai in particular and the UAE in general the destination for companies wishing to start up their businesses or expand their investments.
At the end of the ceremony, H.E Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, and H.E Ahmed Butti Ahmed honoured Dubai Customs’ most prominent partners who play a tangible role in supporting and facilitating customs business and developing the Department’s work in general. 224 government and semi-government entities and public and private companies were presented with memorial shields. The ceremony included a visual presentation of Dubai Customs’ key achievements in 2012 and another for the “Clients’ Ambassadors” initiative. Moreover Dubai Customs organised an entertaining act to the audience which was well received.