The Federal Customs Authority confirmed that the country's customs sector has succeeded in implementing an integrated strategy to address the repercussions of the Corona virus, noting that the strategy it implements with the local customs departments includes eight main axes.

The authority stated in a statement yesterday that those axes are to complete procedures and complete customs transactions easily and with all precautionary measures and measures taken with them, in addition to implementing business continuity plans and a remote work mechanism and facilitating the completion of customs clearance transactions via smart applications, in addition to tightening Control of incoming shipments, in addition to taking all safety and security measures, to ensure that shipments that are allowed into the country are not affected by carrying or being affected by the virus.

The strategy of the customs sector in the country also targeted protecting the customs officials at the main headquarters and customs outlets from infection with the virus by taking precautionary measures, in addition to issuing circulars on how to deal with incoming shipments, work mechanisms and health guidelines, and launching awareness and health initiatives for sector employees and members of society, in addition to To collect statistical data on the movement of goods and goods and analyze them, and to provide them with the competent authorities in the state, which supports decision-making at the country level.

Quick response

Customs Commissioner, Chairman of the Authority, Ali Saeed Al Niyadi, said that the wise leadership directives of the UAE and its rapid awareness of the repercussions and risks of the corona virus outbreak crisis at an early date contributed to spare the country significant risks and launched an early warning bell in government sectors in preparation for facing this crisis. And raise the level of awareness among members of society.

He added that the response of the customs sector in the country, as soon as the first indications of the Corona crisis appeared, was very rapid and positive, as the authority and all local customs departments took decisive customs, health and security measures to prevent the spread of the virus, while at the same time ensuring the provision of society's basic needs.

Challenge and opportunity

Al-Neyadi pointed out that the “Corona” crisis represents a major challenge for the customs sector in the country, because of its health, security, economic and social repercussions, and at the same time it represents a great opportunity to enhance the capabilities of this sector in the field of crisis management, emergencies, disasters and remote work, as it is an opportunity to unleash energies Inherent in this sector in order to foresee the future, creativity and innovation in developing future strategies, that ensure facing such crises and challenges.

He stated that the Federal Customs Authority provided the required support to the National Authority for Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management, from the first moment, and participated actively in all its meetings, as well as cooperated with the relevant authorities in the country, with the aim of alleviating the consequences of an outbreak of the Corona virus in the country.

Emirates trade in foodstuffs

Initial statistical data for the Federal Customs Authority showed that the overall total volume of food trade in the UAE with the rest of the world (direct trade and free zones) amounted to 29.5 billion dirhams during the period from December 2019 to the end of March 2020, where the value of imports from them reached about 20 Billion dirhams, and exports 5.1 billion dirhams, while the value of re-exports amounted to 4.4 billion dirhams.

The 8 themes

Easily terminate procedures and complete customs transactions.

Implement business continuity plans and a remote working mechanism.

- Tightening control over incoming shipments.

Take security and safety measures.

Protection of customs officials at headquarters and outlets from injury.

Issuing circulars on how to deal with incoming shipments.

Launching awareness and health initiatives for sector employees and community members.

- Collecting and analyzing statistical data on the movement of goods and goods.