Dubai Chamber braces up for ATA Carnet system implementation

The technical workshop, which is a third in a year's time, follows the UAE's ratification of the Istanbul Convention on September 13, 2010, making the UAE the 69th member country of the ATA Carnet system allowing the temporary admission of goods under the agreement.

The workshop which will be inaugurated by HE Khalid Ali Al Bustani, Acting Director-General, UAE Federal Customs Authority, and attended by GCC Customs officials, will address the steps to be taken and obligations of Customs authorities and chambers for the implementation of the system, its financial implications, daily operation and management. It will include live exercises on the correct handling of Carnets by Customs, chambers and users.

Being conducted by Mrs Lee Ju Song, ICC Asia Director and a leading expert on the ATA Carnet system, the workshop comes in line with Dubai Chamber's efforts to promote the GCC as destinations for business, sports, cultural and art events, trade fairs and exhibitions. It also tows the Chamber's objective to enhance intra-regional economic and trade cooperation and to create a more attractive business environment in the region for which the Chamber invited a number of regional Customs officials to attend the workshops and promote the system throughout the region.

The ATA Carnet System, through the use of a single document, allows the temporary admission of merchandise and goods in the country by saving time, money and facilitating most Customs formalities. The system also allows the movement of business people and their representatives participating in trade fairs without having to pay Customs duty on their goods, which directly helps in enhancing the country's position as a global destination for business and investment.
The ATA Carnet system is currently successfully operating in 68 countries/economies, with over 150,000 Carnets issued worldwide for goods valued at over $14bn.