Dubai Chamber strives to promote ATA Carnet System in the region

Dubai Chamber is the first Chamber in the Gulf seeking to adapt ATA Carnet and to introduce this system known as the Merchandise Passport for the business community wanting to admit, on a temporary basis, merchandise, commercial samples including computers, cameras and video equipment, industrial machinery, automobiles, gems and jewellery, wearing apparel and display tools for participation in exhibitions and promotional events for a period of not more than a year. Carnets do not cover consumable or disposable goods (e.g., food and agriculture products) giveaways, or postal traffic.

The seminar, which aims at familiarizing the businessmen on the benefits, advantages and procedures of the ATA Carnet system, will be attended by senior Customs and Chamber officials from the Middle East and the GCC countries, exporters, exhibitions and sports events organizers, entertainment and concert promoters, and representatives of logistics, tourism and transport, free zones and banks.

The two-day seminar and workshop will be inaugurated by HE Eng Hamad Buamim, Director General, Dubai Chamber, and the keynote address will be delivered by HE Khalid Ali Al Bustani, Acting Director General, Federal Customs Authority (UAE) in the presence of Lee Ju Song, ICC Asia Director.

According to Buamim, Dubai Chamber strives to benefit the business community through this initiative by joining the ATA Carnet system that facilitates temporary importation of dutiable goods and works under the aegis of the World Chambers Federation.

Said Buamim:

"Dubai Chamber is proud to have opened a dialogue with ICC-WCF and WATAC for the introduction of the ATA Carnet system in the UAE as the system is unique and will work perfectly for a city like Dubai were re-export is a main driver of the Emirate's economy. This will go a long way in leading the way in introducing and promoting ATA Carnet in the UAE and the region and will help foster greater trust between the Gulf countries and these international organizations."

Buamim further stressed that the introduction of the ATA Carnet system in the country is a step in the right direction as this will help enhance the business atmosphere for the traders who will be spared of the Customs duty and VAT on their items and will be able to take back their goods home without any delays by the help of a single document. The businessmen and their representative can save a lot of time, money and effort as the ATA Carnet can be used in more than 63 countries around the world.

The workshop will extensively deal with an overview of the application of the ATA Carnet system, what it is and how does it work; it's implementation including the joining conditions and responsibilities and procedures; Customs clearance methods and retention period under the Istanbul Convention of 1990 initiated by the World Customs Organisation.

Over the past 45 years the Carnet system has spread from a few Western European countries to include 63 economies.

In 2007, approximately 160,000 Carnets were issued worldwide, covering goods valued at almost $17bn.