Customs: An agreement document with the United Nations to increase the efficiency of procedures in 3

The General Authority of Customs, on Tuesday, identified the advantages of implementing the ESCODA system, and while it confirmed that it is safe and reduces smuggling operations, it expected an increase in revenues in the rate of calculating fees after implementing the system, while it confirmed that this system is implemented based on an agreement document with the United Nations to raise the efficiency of procedures on 3 Phase.

The Director of the Customs Automation and Modernization Project at the Authority, Firas Al-Obaidi, said in a statement reported by the official news agency, and seen by Al-Iqtisad News, that “Skoda is a system for automating customs data, as it depends on receiving data from the parties involved in the work of customs,” indicating that “ The degree of reliability of this information is high, secure, fallible, and cannot be tampered with.”

He added, "The automation system (Skoda) was implemented in the Grand Welcome Yard at Umm Qasr Ports, and we faced some difficulties in terms of resistance to change, but it was overcome with the support of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, and the Director General of Customs, by holding courses for all parties involved in the work, namely transporters and exit agents." And transport companies," pointing out that "this led to concerted efforts and we reached an agreement on the necessity of implementing this system as it is one of the basic paragraphs in the government curriculum."

He stated, "The Skoda system limits smuggling operations, because the data that comes from shipping companies is highly reliable and comes back to us before the goods arrive in the country," pointing out that "this system has not been breached since its implementation until now."

He expected, “An increase in revenues in the rate of calculating customs duties in a high manner, because this system prevents human intervention, and the credibility of the information received to us is very high and cannot be tampered with.” He explained, “The agreement document between the Ministry of Finance and the United Nations Organization for Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will be in three stages.” “The first is to put ŠKODA into effect now, the second is the customs control and risk management phase, and the third is the single window phase.”

He stressed, "The General Administration of Customs is holding meetings and discussions with the region's customs to reach a formula in which we agree on all matters to implement the system in the region," pointing out, "We are currently in the stage of preparing the crystallization of discussion and deliberations, and we hope that there will be a complete agreement on automation."

He stated, “Customs work is in coordination with the supporting bodies, which are the Border Ports Authority and the security services,” explaining, “This aims to preserve public money, prevent abuses, and control smuggling operations from illegal ports.”