(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in association with the UAE Federal Customs Authority recently hosted a panel discussion with the private sector on the GCC customs union.
Officials from the UAE Federal Customs Authority discussing ways to facilitate trade with Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry representatives at a panel discussion in Dubai. — Supplied photo
Dubai - The government is keen to facilitate trade and remove customs barriers being faced by the private sector in Dubai a top official said.
The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) in association with the UAE Federal Customs Authority (FCA) recently hosted a panel discussion with the private sector on the GCC customs union at the Chamber head office.
The meeting presided over by Khalid Al Bustani acting director-general UAE FCA and Atiq Juma Nasib senior vice-president commercial services sector Dubai Chamber was attended by executives of business groups operating under the Dubai Chamber.
The meeting discussed issues faced by the business community while dealing with other GCC customs authorities the Customs Union and the GCC Customs Authority especially issues of cross-border trading and land transport to neighbouring GCC countries including Saudi Arabia Oman Qatar and Kuwait as well as unified Customs laws tariffs and the single entry system.
Al Bustani said the Federal Customs Authority has close cooperation with the Dubai Chamber for its role in sustainable economic development in the UAE and in serving the public sector to establish investment and service projects. The meeting with the private sector is a result of this partnership said Al Bustani.
The FCA is keen to enhance cooperation with the private sector in the UAE as a strategic partner he said. The meeting aims to identify the barriers to trade and private sector companies at mutual ports in GCC countries as the FCA wants to address such challenges and develop appropriate solutions to provide a work-friendly environment according to the UAE vision 2021 he said.
Al Bustani said the FCA vision is to promote the Customs work to the highest levels globally for a safe society and facilitated trade. The FCA mission he said is to develop Customs policies and legislation supervise their execution and participate in supporting trade fighting fraud and smuggling.
The meeting with the private sector is part of the FCA’s efforts to facilitate trade with GCC states he said. It supports the recommendation of the GCC Customs Union Authority to cooperate with the private sector. The FCA has decided to coordinate with various Customs departments and chambers of commerce to hold meetings with private sector representatives and refer the recommendations of these meetings to the Customs Union Authority in its future meeting.
An FCA team liaises with all Customs departments across the UAE to identify barriers and develop solutions for them he said.
“The GCC states have agreed to create a liaison team to monitor all Customs issues count the barriers at the GCC level and refer them to the competent committees in order to facilitate communication between customs departments whether at the UAE or GCC level” said Al Bustani. “Facilitating trade especially inter-GCC trade which has grown considerably in the past years from Dh17 billion in 1998 to Dh180 billion in 2014 is a priority with Dubai Chamber as a large number of its members trade with neighbouring GCC countries” he said.
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