A delegation from Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) recently visited Dubai Customs (DC) to learn about latter best practices and on-going systems and procedures.

The visit comes within the framework of exchanging knowledge between the two sides, and the implementation of the MoU inked last May between the parties with the intention of enhancing exchange of information, interlinking electronic networking between the two departments and investing in a strategic partnership.

The visit of the delegation headed by Omar Abdul Aziz Khan, Director of Customer Service Centre at Dubai Chamber, covered different departments, namely, IT Department, Customs Tariff ‘&’ Origin Department, Customs Intelligence Department, Customs Declaration Management Department.

At the Customs Intelligence Department, the visiting delegation was received by Abdulla Al Shaer, Director of Customs Intelligence. The delegation was briefed by Abdulla on the business process and the implemented systems, explaining the intelligence life cycle, from the stage of receiving, collecting, collating and analysing information till the stage of dissemination. He also explained the mechanism of the ‘Risk Engine’ operation — the system which is used by the department to monitor and detect violating shipments.

The delegation also learnt about business processes performed by Dubai Customs across these four departments with the aim of facilitating legitimate trade, protecting the community from prohibited ‘&’ restricted goods and improving satisfaction of customers — companies and individuals alike.

At the beginning of the visit, Bader Al Kharoosi, Manager of Support and Integration, IT Department, gave a detailed explanation of the efforts being made by the department in the areas of services and electronic systems.

He explained the Customs eClearance system (Mirsal2), highlighting, how the automated system operates, its benefits in respect of facilitating easy customs clearance, information entry, receiving trade statistics, minimising revenue loss, time and effort savings, quicker data risk assessment, ascertaining that these have together contributed to enhancing security and facilitated smooth movement of trade and business in the Emirate in particular and UAE in general.

At the Customs Tariff and Origin Department the delegation listened to a detailed presentation about the Customs Tariff implementation — Version-2012 given by Hala Al Yousifi, Manager of Customs Tariff and Conventions Section at Dubai Customs.

Hala explained that “following the implementation of the UAE’s commitments to WCO and GCC, the Customs Tariff Appendixes have been amended and are ready to be executed immediately after having the Ministerial decision issued by the Council of Ministers for implementation of Customs Tariff policy for 2012.”

Hagir Abdulla Al Falasi, Manager of Customs Declaration Clearance Section, explained to the delegation the business module of the department and gave an introduction about Mirsal 2 and its benefits in respect of facilitating and accelerating business process and improvement of customer satisfaction, highlighting that the system has various remarkable benefits, such as electronic interaction with the customers, verification of the documents via the system and electronic networking among the entire Customs departments, These together have contributed to reducing timely Customs transactions clearance.