Dubai Customs Consultative Council holds first business meeting for 2010.

Dubai Customs Consultative Council held the first business meeting for 2010. The meeting took place at Dubai Customs headquarters and was headed byAhmed Butti Ahmed, Executive Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and Dubai Customs Director General.

In the beginning,Ahmed Butti Ahmed welcomed the Council's members who represent the different business sectors and confirmed Dubai Customs commitment to holding these meetings regularly and according to the set plan as to convene four times a year all parties concerns, share experience, feedback and overcome business obstacles that might encounter traders and clients as well as their service delivery standards continuous improvement.

Council members viewed a documentary film showing Customs Business Model built-in Mirsal 2, a system recently launched by Dubai Customs to its clients. The attendees were introduced to the business cycle of the adopted procedures performed by both; the clients and the Department starting from the notification of shipment arrival and providing data until the payment and clearance processes. These procedures are completed in less than two minutes for the risk-free declarations and even few seconds for some. Moreover, the System currently serves over 100 thousand clients on a 24/7 basis.

During the meeting, Dubai Customs responded efficiently to the issues listed on the Council's business agenda including the used car dealers' request of collecting duty on these cars based on their conditions and value as scraps at the time of importing. Traders operating at used-car market in Ras Al Khour (DUCAMZ) and who import used cars which are subsequently sold as scraps, due to some technical conditions and inability to be used in roads, get their request approved.

Members of the Consultative Council expressed their satisfaction with Dubai Customs' immediate response as reflected on the customs valuation being carried out during cars sale process and collecting customs duties based on such value.

H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed announced during the meeting that dealers who submit wrong data for their customs declarations could be exempted from paying the estimated fine if they corrected it within a specific period of time in order to make sure accurate data is entered properly and not for the purpose of misleading. This prompt response was also well-received by the members of the Council.

The Council's achievements since it was established last January were reviewed during the meeting. In cooperation with the Council, the Client Management Department at Dubai Customs held five focus group meetings with the business sectors to look into the issues and obstacles faced and to inform them and increase their awareness about Customs business procedures.

A meeting was held with the Electronics Group which sought to learn about the Accredited Clients Program implemented at Dubai Customs. The Program comprises of three clients categories; golden, silver and bronze. Clients are classified according to a number of standards; for example, activity, volume of transaction, record, commitment and the payment process. The meeting played a major role in increasing the Group's awareness about the Program; consequently, new clients joined the Program.

Another meeting was held with the Brand Owners Protection Group (BGP) to inform them about the Department's efforts in the field of Intellectual Property Right and a representative from Dubai Customs was assigned to coordinate communication with them. There were other meetings held with Dubai Shipping Agents Association, the Gold and Jewelry Group and Dubai Internet City companies to discuss providing additional services and increase awareness about the adopted procedures at Customs.

The 2010 agenda of the Client Management at Dubai Customs also includes holding over 22 meetings with the different business sectors and free zones; four of which are to explain Mirsal 2 business mechanism and respond to this new System's related enquiries. The meetings will take place in April, June, July and November.

H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed affirmed Dubai Customs keenness to achieve its vision towards supporting legitimate trade movement inline with its commitment to facilitation and compliance. He pointed out that Mirsal 2 Risk Engine plays a great role in fulfilling this vision through the information provided to the System and analyzing customs intelligence information in order to take the necessary action.

Members of the Consultative Council praised Dubai Customs for the prompt action with regards to the discussed issues as well as the provided procedures which help facilitate legitimate trade. Mr. Mr. Paras Shahdadpuri, President of Indian Business and Professional Council and Member of Dubai Customs Consultative Council said:" What is more significant than the formation of the Council is the fact that Dubai Customs is willing to listen to the clients' problems and solve them promptly. Such a thing reinforces Dubai Customs trustworthiness and helps appreciate the government services provided to them. In the business community, Dubai Customs enjoys a good reputation especially after the formation of the Consultative Council initiative and the commencement of its activities recently." He added.

Addressing the traders and businessmen, Mr. Shahdapuri further said that Dubai Customs gives much attention to the business community and seeks to adjust its procedures to meet their needs and offer facilitations as long as they are legitimate and compliant.

2010 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

2009 Al Bawaba (Albawaba.com)

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