Panellists convened today on the second day of 2013 World Customs Organization (WCO) IT Conference and Exhibition for a roundtable discussion titled ‘Facilitation through business integration - can businesses work with customs the same way as they do with other agencies at the border?’
Hosted by Dubai Customs under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the event seeks to explore how modern information and communications technology (ICT) can open up exciting possibilities for a new and redefined government approach at the border
“The nature and concept of the customs work has evolved as a result of the recent security and socio economic conditions around the world. Therefore, new tasks have been entrusted to customs whereby its role in most countries requires the customs’ administrations to change their traditional approach in managing their responsibilities,” pointed out His Excellency Ghaleb Kassem, Director General, Jordan Customs.
He added: “Customs administrations face a number of controversial concepts such as facilitating the movement of trade against having effective controls, and facilitating the entry of goods with the reduction of the costs and release time of goods against growing the revenue for the state. To achieve these conflicting objectives, customs administrations must find innovative ways to deliver more successful work, especially in the era of knowledge and information flow with the availability of modern technological systems that can contribute to achieving this balance.”
The exclusive roundtable was moderated by Rodrigo Crespo, Business Development Manager, Webb Fontaine, and headlined by His Excellency Ghaleb Kassem, Director General, Jordan Customs; John Bescec, Director, Global Trade Policy and Standards, Microsoft Corporation; Willie Shumba, Senior Program Officer, Customs, Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment (TIFI) - Directorate Southern African Development Community (SADC); Shahab Al Jassmi, Senior Manager – Commercial, Dubai Trade, and Mouhamadou Makhtar Cisse, Director General, Senegal Customs.
Shahab Al Jassmi said: “We have witnessed continued growth in Dubai’s trade since 2008 from AED900 billion to AED1.3 trillion in 2012 - for the first time in history. The Dubai Trade portal offers a single window to the online services for its stakeholders and provides a streamlined flow of services designed around customer needs and ensuring customer satisfaction.”
He added: “The portal services are on a continuing growth curve and currently include services for traders, shipping lines and agents, clearing and forwarding agents, haulers, and free zone licenses covering marine services, cargo handling services, cargo clearance and haulage services, invoicing and payment services and free zone services.”
Willie Shumba said: “Traditional perception of customs and stakeholders was one of ‘us’ and ‘them’ and one that is ridden by an element of fear. The modern customs administration needs to recognize the principles of partnership and collaborations. Collaborations between customs and customs, and customs and business networks need to be promoted. Customs has to be responsive to input from stakeholders and needs to actively engage with them. Collaboration will result in a seamless, cooperative system for the good of both customs and stakeholders.”
John Bescec said: “In many countries, the infrastructure has not grown at the same pace as to keep up with the growth of the economies. This impacts the competitiveness of the countries. Effective solutions such as Integrated Border Management system are needed. It’s also good that the private sector is ready to help. Integration not only includes IT integration, it also implies integration of other factors including infrastructure such as roads and transport, legal system and policies and procedures. Technology exists today that can help governments move towards more efficiency and it is important this aspect is well leveraged.”
Mouhamadou Makhtar Cisse said: “Senegal Integrated Single Window is a successful example of paperless end to end system built through a dynamic partnership between public and private sector. It has resulted in 70 per cent reduction in procedure time. The single window combines B to B, e-clearance and cargo systems and uses technology to build efficiencies of cost and resources.”
Held at Atlantis – The Palm in Dubai, the three-day conference has attracted customs authorities and representatives from border regulatory agencies, the IT sector, the broader business community, governmental and trade organizations, lending institutions, and other stakeholders in the international trade arena.