In continuation of Yemen Customs Authority (YCA)’s efforts to update and develop customs procedures in line with international standards and agreements related to simplifying customs procedures and facilitating trade, and in an effort to improve compliance and enhance partnership with the business community, under the patronage of the Prime Minister, Dr. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, and the support and supervision of the Minister of Finance, Salem binbureik, YCA organized, this morning, at its headquarters in Aden, a discussion seminar on the Authorized Economic Operator Program. The seminar was chaired by YCA Chairman -Mr. Abdulhakim Al-Qabati, and attended by a large set of private sector partners from Aden Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and representatives of the business community from various sectors of manufacturing, export, import, maritime shipping, and customs clearance.
In his keynote speech, Al-Qabati welcomed the attendees and emphasized the role of customs in strengthening partnership with the private sector and the Authority’s desire to provide tangible customs facilities to traders who adhere to customs and commercial legislation and requirements within the objectives of the Authorized Economic Operator Program. He also reviewed the stages of implementing the program and its application since its launch in mid-2019, and stressed the importance of traders and customs brokers complying with the Customs Law and other relevant legislation to obtain the benefits provided by the program. He explained that the Authority has so far granted the Authorized Economic Operator certificate to 15 companies, most of which work in the field of import, especially food import, as well as in export and customs clearance services. In this context, he praised the commitment demonstrated by the companies that were granted the Economic Operator certificate during the past period. He stressed that the Authority seeks to grant the Economic Operator certificate to every committed trader so that they can benefit from the many advantages offered by the program, which include giving priority, simplifying customs procedures, and accelerating release, which would reduce costs and time.
He also touched on the Authority’s efforts in building customs capabilities through training courses in various fields locally and abroad, in the belief in the importance of the role of human cadres in improving performance and achieving the Authority’s strategic goals.
In the speech of the Aden Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sheikh Salem Al-Saadi praised the services provided by the Authority to facilitate trade and enhance partnership with the business community. Khaled Abdul Wahid, Director of Abdul Wahid Mohammed Noman Company (the famous one), in his capacity as an economic operator, spoke about the procedures before and after joining the program, and praised the reduction of the average customs clearance time to only two hours after obtaining the status of an authorized operator. Representatives of Bin Awad Al-Naqeeb Company and Al-Sarari Trading Company also spoke about their experience after obtaining the authorized operator certificate, and praised the advantages provided by the program and the cooperation they see from customs when their transactions face any problems when implementing customs clearance procedures.
For his part, the Director General of Audit and Risk, Hamed Al-Shatri, and his deputy, Shaker Al-Shaabi, Director of the Economic Operator, gave two speeches that discussed in detail the advantages provided by the authorized economic operator program, such as speeding up procedures, subsequent auditing, and priority in clearance.
Meanwhile, representatives of the commercial sector, especially companies that had previously obtained the economic operator, praised the cooperation and facilities provided by the Authority. They also hoped to obtain similar benefits from other government agencies responsible for inspecting and examining shipments at customs ports so that the program can achieve the desired goals in facilitating trade and encouraging compliance.
The seminar was attended by YCA deputies of enforcement and Technical Affairs, MR.Ahmed Al-Hajj and Mr.Abdullah Al-Habashi, and a set of general managers.
