Saudi Arabia ranked sixth globally, according to the 2020 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index, due to achievements by Saudi Customs.
The root of the Kingdom’s gains are the transformative plans that comprise Vision 2030, its nationwide economic strategy that aims to open and diversify the domestic economy and integrate it more closely with the global market.
The Customs has helped the logistics sector through several initiatives, starting with the digital transformation of services. The Customs worked on reinforcing technical and digital potential in customs work to provide innovative services that improve the clients’ experience.
The Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index presents a data-driven analysis of 50 of the world’s most promising emerging logistics markets, reflecting the complexity, connectedness and opportunities each market provides.
The most significant digital transformation initiatives included developing electronic systems and the technical and digital strategy and digitizing processes that aim to automate customs services, in addition to developing technical solutions.
One of the major projects the Customs and its partners worked on was providing customs services through a unified national import and export system (Fasah). The platform allows parties involved in export and import operations to submit and follow-up applications electronically. It provided full transparency in dealing with clients through tracking shipments and defining fees.
The licensing of companies entrusted with logistics services, shipment and customs' release played a huge role in Saudi Arabia’s high ranking. The move sought to empower specialized global logistic companies in offering complete logistic services.
Another factor in the achievement are the agreements signed by Saudi Customs with some local and international bodies to develop bonded zones that serve their exports.
On the international level, Saudi Customs’ participation in the FIATA World Congress 2019 in Capetown in South Africa also helped achieve its sixth ranking. This participation stressed the vital role of Saudi Customs plays in reinforcing the logistics sector in the Kingdom.