A delegation from Dubai Customs headed by H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed, Executive Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and Director General of Dubai Customs, visited the Saudi Arabian Department of Customs (SADC) as part of mutual cooperation and endeavors to share experiences and boost bilateral relations.
During the two-day visit, the Dubai Customs delegation met with H.E. Saleh Al Khaliwi, Director General of Customs Department of Saudi Arabia, and high-profile officials. They discussed cooperation aspects and sharing of practical experiences in the customs business.
Dubai Customs delegation learned about the organizational structure of SADC and its customs ports, communication channels used to communicate with security bodies and the achievements they made in the field of foiling prohibited and counterfeit goods’ smuggling operations.
Moreover, Dubai Customs delegation learned about the applications and work mechanisms of customs business, namely tariff, value, means to confront customs violations, risk management with the aid of customs intelligence, best practices applied at the technical support departments, Customs e-Clearance System, Risk Engine, methods and criteria used to set up risk profiles and the standards of categorizing business partners.
The visit covered the Information Centre, Transiting Trucks Control Room, General Administration for Controlling Devices and its affiliated departments, including Risk, Intelligence, Investigation, Canine Unit and Containers’ X-ray Scanners. The delegation learned about the cases related to narcotics and prohibited materials smuggling operations.
They also visited the Customs Training Institute and were briefed about the training plan in the Saudi Customs for 2013, new employees training programs, customs courses and programs of training on practical inspection system and mechanisms.
H.E. Ahmed Butti expressed his hope that this customs cooperation will be positively reflected on the business systems and programs for both parties and will boost direct trade between Dubai and the KSA which generated AED 37 billion between January and October 2012, a 15% increase over the same period in 2011. Worth mentioning, Dubai imports from KSA amounted to AED 4.1 billion, while Dubai exports to the kingdom amounted to AED 4.8 billion and re-exports AED 28 billion.
Mr Butti affirmed that the visit was within the framework of consolidating Dubai Customs’ relations with strategic partners and sharing of experiences with them to develop work procedures in both sides. They discussed all mutual concerns and set up cooperation mechanisms between them, particularly covering the technical aspects.
Dubai Customs General Director pointed out that the Department is keen to provide all facilitations required for the business sector in both countries to maintain the exceptional trade partnership, which falls within the scope of the deeply-rooted brotherly and social relations that connect the neighboring countries.
Mr Butti invited H.E. Saleh Al Khaliwi to visit Dubai Customs and get a first-hand look at its work systems and mechanisms to further expand the cooperation aspects between the two countries.
Worth mentioning, the Director General of Customs Department of Saudi Arabia will be one of the keynote speakers at the World Customs Organization IT Conference and Exhibition 2013, to be held from May 14 to 16, 2013 in Dubai under the title: "Effective Solutions for Coordinated Border Management,". The event, which will be held for the first time in the region, will witness the participation of several decision-makers in the customs and IT sectors.
Dubai Customs delegation comprised of Yousef Al Sahlawi, Senior Executive Director of Corporate Affairs, Ahmed Mahboub, Executive Director of the Clients Management Division, Juma Al Ghaith, Executive Director of the Customs Development Division, Mohammed Al Muaini, Director of Customs Tariff and Origin Department, and Abdulla Al Shaer, Director of Customs Intelligence Department.
At the end of the visit, Mr Butti and Mr Al Khaliwi exchanged memorial shields and souvenirs.