Dubai- The formation of “Dubai Customs Consultative Council” initiative which was announced by H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed, Dubai Customs Director General, during the Clients Annual Meeting, was well-received by the trade sector.
The Department’s Clients Annual Meeting which brought together different business sectors was aimed at creating a communication bridge between Dubai Customs and its clients besides improving the service delivery standards and the adopted business procedures. It is also to identify their feedback and the obstacles they encounter while handling business with the Department and to find the appropriate solutions for them.
Businessmen and traders expressed their support to the initiative and said that it is an unprecedented move by a government department that is keen on involving its clients in the decision-making process. They also confirmed that furthering the Department’s business would reflect positively on their activities as well.
The Council comprises the most prominent traders and heads of business groups and will hold its meeting quarterly. This comes inline with Dubai Customs keenness to enhance the services offered to the clients as well as reinforcing the communication channels with them.
Captain Mansoor Abdul Ghafoor, President of the National Association of Freight and Logistics, which has prominent members from cargo companies in the UAE, said that announcing the creation of the Council was timely. “Such an initiative is considered a unique and remarkable step taken by Dubai Customs since it is a government authority which is in constant contact with the cargo and logistics sector.” He said.
Moreover, Mr. Abdul Ghafoor confirmed that the Council will probably eliminate obstacles that normally arise at any workplace; “It will be the destination for the companies to resort to whenever they had any feedback they wanted to share with regards to customs work. Dubai Customs adopts the open door policy with its clients and always welcomes our suggestions and opinions and takes them into consideration. However, the Council will reinforce this direct relation and will constitute a party where all of our business visions and expectations from Customs can meet. For instance, cargo companies will benefit a lot from the initiative if they ever faced work-related problems even outside Dubai Customs.” he added.
Captain Abdul Ghafoor stressed the distinguished services Dubai Customs provides especially after updating Mirsal2 system highlighting the system’s shortest time required to complete clearance of transactions in the region. He stated:" The trade sector can clearly see the great attention Dubai Customs gives to developing and introducing the most up-to-date services and we are at the same time growing along with this governmental growth and benefiting from the continuous improvement of the services.”
Mr. Hamdi Othman, Executive Chairman of Federal Express (Fedex) in the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa considered Dubai Customs Consultative Council a real confirmation of the partnership relations between the government and the private sector. He also praised the initiative and emphasized that it is an important step toward involving the business community in the decision-making process for the government. He said:" On every scale, this is definitely a step forward that grants the business community the confidence that they are being taken into account by the government.”
Mr. Othman added that the Council will be beneficial for both sides as it includes market experts, people who travel a lot and have different experiences dealing with various customs around the world, in addition to Dubai Customs representatives. “This will surely reinforce Dubai Customs’ efforts in implementing the best international customs practices and benefiting from successful experiences. We confirm the valuable initiatives Dubai Customs introduced with regards to facilitating the procedures and services it offers to the sector, like the freight companies for example.” he said.
Furthermore, Mr. Paras Shahdadpuri, President of Indian Business and Professional Council and Chairman of NIKAI Group of Companies commended Dubai Customs’ initiative and considered it an additional move towards involving the business sector and the Department’s clients in making decisions that have to do with simplifying procedures and enhancing the services. He said:" We take much pride of such initiative. Forming the Council was in place to help us, therefore; a country that has this kind of approaches shall never fail.” Mr. Shahdadpuri expressed his full willingness to contribute to the Council’s activities.