Dubai Customs and General Administration of Kuwait Customs have agreed to set up an electronic integration system to enable exchange of Customs intelligence information and automated clearance of goods imported to Kuwait from Dubai ports and vice versa.
The system scheduled for implementation early 2017 will allow the interchange of risk information gathered from processing Customs declarations, relying on the advanced facilities of Dubai Customs’ internationally-acclaimed Risk Assessment Engine – an integrated smart system, which stands out as a reference model worldwide, according to the World Customs Organization.
The signing of the joint agreement culminated a two-day official visit by a high-profile delegation from Kuwait Customs, headed by Khalid Abdullah Al Saif, Director General of the General Administration of Kuwait Customs. They were welcomed on the part of Dubai Customs by Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director; Abdullah Al Khaja, Executive Director of Customer Management Division; Saeed Al Tayer, Executive Director of Policies and Legislation Division; Faisal Lutfi, Director of External Relations and CEO of Dubai Customs World; along with a number of senior officers. The visiting Kuwaiti deputation also comprised Walid Al Nasser, Director of Customs Affairs, and Talal Al Alyan, IT Department Director.
Ahmed Mahboob Musabih hailed the visit which heightens the constructive cooperation between Dubai Customs and Kuwait Customs towards leveraging the operations of both entities.
“Such Customs to Customs synergy is expected to reinforce the performance of both administrations and enhance bilateral trade between the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait,” he said.
Dubai Customs Director pointed out that Dubai-Kuwait trade grew up 6 percent during the first half of 2016 to stand at AED 10.7 billion against AED 10 billion in the same period last year, with imports accounting for AED 3.55 billion, exports clocking AED 1.7 billion and re-exports valued at AED 5.48 billion.
The Kuwaiti officials were walked through Dubai Customs’ world-class facilities including the Control Room, the first of its kind in the Middle East which operates 24/7 and is equipped with 23 fully-integrated systems and programs to ensure real-time tracking of consignments and containers. The control room monitors Customs inspections in air, sea and land ports via 500 cameras scattered across 25 Customs entry-points in Dubai.
They were also briefed about the Risk Assessment Engine and related intelligence cycle, which encompasses collection, linking and analysis of consignment data to create pre-defined risk profiles based on which Customs transactions are assessed either to be cleared out automatically or be routed for further risk mitigation and inspection.
Kuwait Customs Director General Khalid Al Saif was delighted with the visit and signing of the protocol on establishing an advance electronic integration system between Dubai and Kuwait Customs administrations, which he described as a concrete step towards implementing the MoU concluded last year between the two authorities for exchange of information, expertise and training.
The chief of Kuwait Customs said the new system, which will start operating by January next year, will equally further facilitate and streamline clearance of goods in the ports of Kuwait and Dubai, especially as 70% of cargo imports that arrive at Kuwaiti ports are originated from Dubai.
“The agreement of cooperation we have reached focuses on mutual exchange of Customs intelligence as being key to effective control of risky consignments before they infiltrate our borders ,” he added.
While eying a greater logistic cooperation in the future, both Dubai Customs and Kuwait Customs are confident that the approaching electronic integration between their agencies will benefit their countries’ interests and those of the larger GCC Common Customs Union through strengthening regional security and trade flow.
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