The 3rd advanced conference on Trade Compliance in the Middle East kicked off today at Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Organized by C5 group, the event is held in partnership with Dubai Customs and will run till 10th of March.
More than 50 international experts and delegates from key economic sectors such as trade, manufacturing, freight forwarding, and telecommunications, have come together to get the latest on how to comply with applicable trade and customs regulations and make the best use of duty relief and certification programmes.
The 3-day conference is geared at providing business agents and trade compliance professionals with up-to-date insights on export controls, sanctions and customs rules from a government speaking faculty that is made up of Dubai Customs, US Department of State, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, and World Customs Organisation.
The eminent line-up of speakers from local, regional and international regulatory bodies feature in interactive audience polling sessions, workshops and discussion groups covering real-life sensitive issues on a variety of topics.
The new Dubai Customs’ Authorised Economic Operator certification program, how it works, and the benefits it can bring to companies and requirements for getting certified top this year’s conference agenda. Attendees from the local business community can also find out more about the essentials of US, EU and other global export and trade controls to help them raise their level of trade compliance and efficiency in the global supply chain.
The conference aims to promote voluntary trade compliance, and minimize the effects of international agreements and protocols on inter-GCC and MENA trading trends.
The Director of Customs Declaration Management Department and Owner of AEO Program Eman Badr Al Suwaidy delivered the keynote address, titled “Introduction of the Authorized Economic Operator in Dubai”, on day one of the conference.
Ms Al Suwaidy and Tim Cornell, National Manager of International Trade and Development, Liaison Officer of HM Revenue & Customs, delivered a presentation on the requirements for receiving AEO certification in Dubai and the anticipated benefits for AEOs.
She elaborated on what differentiates Dubai Customs’ AEO certification program from others. “Dubai Customs’ AEO program has the best benefit package in the world and is the first AEO program with benefits for transshipment of goods. It is also the first AEO program that smartly measures compliance, speed and predictability. It makes the flow of goods faster and more predictable than anywhere else in the World. AEOs are expected to save 25% of operational costs,” Al Suwaidi said.
She spoke about the benefits AEOs should expect from the program, which include simplified procedures, reduced physical and documentary controls with priority treatment when goods are subject to inspection, improved service levels through key account managers, being recognized as a trustworthy and transparent partner within the supply chain in the region, and much more
Ms Al Suwaidy is leading an interactive post-conference workshop on Thursday, March 10, to provide attendees with the opportunity to work through examples of the mist critical challenges companies face when applying for the AEO certification. The workshop will be held jointly with Lars Karlsson, President of KGH Border Services; Dubai Customs partner in AEO program implementation.