Dubai Customs delegation concludes a successful visit to China

The Dubai Customs delegation, headed by Ahmed Butti Ahmed, the Executive Chairman of Ports, Customs, and Free Zone Corporation, and the Director General of Dubai Customs, concluded its official business visit to the People’s Republic of China.

During the visit - which took place from September 15 to 19- the delegation inked an agreement with senior officials from the China Customs to develop an electronic connection between Dubai Customs and the China Customs.

Representatives from both sides discussed a number of vital issues through the coordination of their respective customs procedures; including future joint cooperation, exchange of expertise, training of customs inspectors, trade relations between Dubai and China, and the possibility of benefiting from customs systems in both countries.

The Dubai Customs delegation visited Beijing and Shanghai , and met with H.E. Lu Peijun, Vice Minister of the General Administration of China Customs, Deputy Customs Commissioner-General, along with other customs officials.

The delegation surveyed numerous aspects of the Chinese experience in customs; the most important of which are the use of information technology applications and the regulations in categorized customs clearance, as well as the role of customs intelligence in the inspection of shipments.

Members of the Dubai Customs delegation visited the E-Port, and the Scanning and Detection Center of the Industrial Sector in Beijing.

The delegation also paid a visit to Shanghai International Port, where they learned about applied procedures and techniques.

In an exclusive interview with the Chinese News Agency (Xinhua), Butti declared that bilateral relations with China are of exceptional importance, due to China’s economic boom. He added that the objective of the visit to China was to enhance joint cooperation; in recognition of the fact that customs bodies play prominent roles in all countries, as they are main access point for any type of goods or products.

The Director General of Dubai Customs expressed his appreciation of the visit’s outcomes; which were attributable to China’s prominent economic position on the international level and their advanced customs systems. He said:” An initial agreement to establish an integrated technological system to connect electronically between Customs in both Dubai and China, was forge.”

Butti explained that this connection is expected to benefit both Dubai and China Customs, as it will accelerate clearance procedures and reveal the real volume of trade exchange between the two sides. Moreover, it will allow for the identification of goods which enter into the UAE on frequent basis, and are re-exported via the UAE.

In a statement to the Middle East News Agency office in Beijing , Butti asserted that the agreement - which is scheduled to be inked later this year -will remove many of the obstacles that hinder customs procedures, and will facilitate and control cargo movements and clearance procedures between the two countries. He elaborated that “this system will provide essential information about all imports and exports between the two parties prior to their arrival, in addition to the accurate data in terms of content and category of shipment, which will in turn help to facilitate their control and ensure the quality of goods traded between the UAE and China. The agreement is also expected to allow for the exchange of training programs.”

Dubai Customs invited officials of the China Customs to visit Dubai, in order to finalize the initially-reached agreements, which include the exchange of intelligence information and expertise.

Mr. Butti elaborated that Dubai Customs and China Customs are currently setting a team to conclude the procedures of the formal signing of the initial agreement of the electronic connection.

China is one of Dubai’s most prominent trading partner. Butti evidenced China’s importance to Dubai by indicating that the total trade volume between Dubai and China grew by 17% to AED 63 billion during the first half of 2013, compared to AED 54 billion in the same period last year.

In terms of imports, China was Dubai’s top partner. Imports from China accounted for AED 61 billion in the first half of the current year, compared to AED 52 billion in the same period last year. Butti declared Dubai Customs’ commitment to the further expansion of this prosperous partnership. He said:” As part of the expected collaboration, Dubai Customs will provide Chinese investors with vital information, in order to boost partnerships and trade exchange amongst the investors in both sides. We will facilitate this exchange to secure even more growth in trade.”

The delegation included Mr. Juma Al Ghaith, the Executive Director of Customs Development Division; Mr. Yousef Al Hashimi, the Director of the Intellectual Property Rights Department; Mr. Ahmed Al Khrousi, the Director of Customs Intelligence Department, and Mr. Khalil bin Gharib, the Director of Corporate Communication at the Dubai Customs.