Business & Money | Thursday 28 January, 2016 5:41 am |

In its ongoing efforts to increase efficiencies and lower trade costs for the benefit of Saudi businesses, Saudi Customs has recognized Huawei—a leading global ICT solutions provider—for its extensive efforts in the field of digital customs. Together with the World Customs Organization, Saudi Customs had awarded Huawei with a certificate of “Digital Customs: Progressive Engagement” in alignment with this week’s International Customs Day.

 

The term "digital customs" refers to automated or electronic activity that contributes to the effectiveness, efficiency, and coordination of customs operations. This includes automated customs clearance systems, electronic exchange of information between agencies, websites to communicate information and promote trade transparency, and the use of smart devices in import & export operations.  

 

Saudi Customs and Huawei have had a deep level of cooperation in this field over the past year. Huawei was in the first batch of companies to carry out a fresh online clearance system in the Kingdom, has offered training to Saudi Customs about latest trends and imports in the ICT industry, and has cooperated on several IT projects aimed at driving easier, faster and less bureaucratic customs clearance procedures.

 

The certificate was presented by H.E. Saleh M. Al-Khaliwi, Director General of Saudi Customs, to Huawei representative James Kenneth Lockett, Vice President, Head of Trade Facilitation and Market Access at Huawei.

 

“Saudi Arabia is an increasingly important trade hub for the region, both as an import and export market. Local entities are reaping enormous value from digitizing customs operations as efficiencies improve and employees are empowered across the value chain,” notes James Kenneth Lockett, VP Trade Facilitation and Market Access at Huawei.

 

Digital customs are currently playing a decisive role in optimizing duty collection in Saudi Arabia and thereby boosting national revenues. Digital customs programs are also helping to reduce bottlenecks where space, offloading facilities and other port resources are scarce. In many instances, this is done while up-skilling personnel and increasing their productivity and value within the customs agency.

 

Over the past year Huawei has supported local partners to reap the benefits of this new wave of innovation. For example, the company has developed an import and export management IT platform known as Global Trade Management (GTM) to improve invoice preparation, tariff classification, tax payment requests. 

 

On a global level, Huawei has been appointed by a number of government clients to assist in moving from manual, paper-based customs procedures to online platforms that provide officials with up-to-the-minute data on incoming shipments and allows them to make decisions in real-time.