Dubai Customs participates in training course on revised Kyoto Convention

This visit is in line with the Department's strategy to partake in the most crucial worldwide customs agreements among which Kyoto Convention is listed and all that aims to regulate and facilitate international trade movement.

Mr. Ali Al Shahi, Regional and International Affairs Manager at Dubai Customs, gave a lecture during the course where he meticulously explained the revised version of Kyoto Convention, its principles, major provisions as well as the most essential elements that must be adopted by all customs departments that wish to adhere to it.

Al Shahi also pointed out the specified duration required to join the Convention as well as the most essential contents and aspired functionalities with regards to the perspective customs departments and the trade sector across the world in general.

He stressed that the revised and updated version of Kyoto Convention provides full-fledged collection of the unified principles with regards to the simplified, efficient and expected customs procedures.

The Convention also aims to find a balance between customs tasks that are concerned with sponsorship procedures and customs return collection, and those concerned with facilitating international trade movement.

Mr. Al Shahi confirmed:

"Goods movement through international crossings is the main aspect of conducting an international trade deal. Customs presence is a major and legal aspect for goods entry and exit. Therefore, the methodology that Customs implements reflects on the competency level of customs departments to facilitate and simplify goods movement procedures among countries. Undoubtedly, this does not mean opening a chance for smuggling and trafficking to take place. On the contrary, it is highly demanded that a balance must be created between facilitation and simplification on one hand and customs monitoring on the other hand; such a thing which Kyoto Convention urges to accomplish."

The Dubai Customs delegation also included Mr. Humaid Al Shamsi, Senior Legal Researcher and Mr. Hussain Darweesh, External Affairs Coordinator at the Department. Several delegations that represent customs authorities took part in this course which allows non-member countries to join the revised Kyoto Convention; for example, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Yemen and the UAE besides the hosting country.