Saudi Arabia has reduced its customs clearance period from 12 days to 2 hours in a move aimed at increasing the efficiency of customs processes in all the Kingdom’s land, sea and air ports.
The Kingdom, according to a new initiative by the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) will target a two-hour customs clearance time at all land, sea and air ports.
The governor of ZATCA, Suhail Abanmi, said that the scheme comes “after the completion of a phase of continuous cooperation and coordination between the customs clearance system.”
“To reach this target is a key possibility for the Kingdom to become a global logistics platform,” added Abanmi.
Speaking at ZATCA’s celebration of World Customs Day, which was marked in Riyadh on Sunday, Abanmi stressed that the newly announced initiative aims to improve customs operations, performance and productivity indicators, strengthen the logistics sector and support the Kingdom’s position in the growth of the world economy.
Abanmi stressed the authority’s commitment to deepen cooperation with local and international bodies, both public and private, in a way that serves the initiative and contributes to enhancing the efficiency of customs services.
He said that the exchange of knowledge between the authority and its customs counterparts was “a top priority.”
“The authority, through its academy, continuously strives to consolidate the importance of building knowledge and skills and developing the potential of its employees through specialized programs in all areas of customs work,” said Abanmi.
“Human capital is the foundation of creativity, innovation and excellence. It is possible to achieve the authority’s strategy, which aims to build an effective working system,” he stressed.
Nashmi Al-Harbi, a logistics expert, said that a higher level of success can be achieved by saving time.
Harbi stressed that Saudi Arabia is proactive in seeking to facilitate and accelerate procedures to achieve the national strategy for transport and logistics services.
