International Customs Day & Week 2022

NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, JANUARY 30, 2022 18 CUSTOMS WEEK T HE ERA of emerging and trending technologies such as IoT, cloud computing, ar- tificial intelligence, machine learn- ing, blockchain and the widespread availability of smart devices have been redefining the services now beingmade available by both public and private sector entities. There is no exception for Customs author- ities worldwide who have been taking advantage of these techno- logical enhancements to meet the needs of an ever-changing trade environment with the demand for increased throughput. This un- doubtedly necessitates stronger measures for enforcement and de- tection while facilitating legitimate trade. Trade and logistics supply chain are also quickly evolving into digital economies which de- mands greater coordination be- tween Customs and other Border Regulatory Authorities to reduce overlaps and maximise efficiencies and convenience, hence the need to leverage information and com- munication technology for daily op- erations and delivery of service to clients and other business interests. TheJamaicaCustomsAgency is cog- nisant of this fact and has been very strategic in itspartnerships andsignifi- cant useof technology. This is towards achieving its objective of becoming a digital Customs Administration. Information Communication Technology (ICT) has hence become a strategic enabler to improve service delivery while ensuring transparency and accountability. The agency has beendevelopingand implementinga number of newserviceswhile re-engi- neeringanddigitalisingexistingbusi- ness processes, using an integrated andcollaborativeapproach toborder management internal to the agency, PartneringRegulatoryAuthorities and other stakeholder groups. The results havebeenevident inthesignificant re- ductionof processing time, paperless servicesandreducedcost and logistics, whereapplicable, for traders and their agents. AUTOMATED CUSTOMS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM – ASYCUDA WORLD The implementation of the Automated System for Customs Data, ASYCUDA World, was a sig- nificant shift towards digitisation of core Customs operations to include the related public-fac- ing services to traders and their agents. This was further enhanced with the ongoing integration with key GoJ services for electronic ver- ification and transmission of data rather than the interaction with physical documents for both cargo and passenger clearance services. The current state is in excess of 90% of all public-facing services have been digitised to include the provision of additional services for 14 Ministries Department and Agencies (MDA) which under- take and complete their regula- tory function for cargo clearance within the Automated Customs Management System. With the in- creased use of technology for risk assessment and other detection capabilities, the positive rate of in- terventions has been yielding the desired outcome. The cost reduc- tion benefits to traders and their agents are realised immediately; an example is the digitalisation of some core import service and the subsequent removal of six pri- mary physical documents, which has resulted in the annual saving of in excess of J$130 million. Automation and further integra- tion with other services provided by other state agencies enables the real-time validation of data from sources, which also results in the reduction of documentary re- quirements to complete clearance formalities such as import, export and transit declarations, and reg- istration of exporters, thus simpli- fying our services to traders. This has also negated walk-ins, time and logistics overheads while enabling internal automated workflows for processing by Customs officers and other regulatory MDAs to complete their review in a more timely man- ner where intervention is required. Based on the throughput for the current fiscal year, 91.3% of all com- mercial declarations, on average, are processed within 20 hours or less after payment. JAMAICA SINGLE WINDOW FOR TRADE (JSWIFT) It is important to note the im- plementation of Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) measures for ef- ficient cross-border trade involves and depends on ICT implemen- tation/enhancement, such as the online publication of regulatory information, enquiry points, elec- tronic processing of declarations, pre-arrival processing, electronic payment, risk management, establishment of release times and operation of National Single Window systems, which all require the use of ICT. The Jamaica Single Window for Trade (JSWIFT) pro- ject is another undertaking of the Government of Jamaica, with the JCA being designated the lead im- plementing agency and operating in partnership with other MDAs and the contracted party, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). JSWIFT is a facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardised information and doc- uments with a single entry, hence a one-stop-shop electronic system that allows traders to submit infor- mation at a single point to fulfil all import, export or transit-related regulatory requirements to agencies involved in cross-border trader. This is to obtain a permit, licence, JCA on its journey to becoming a digital customs administration ‘Customs Caring From the Heart’ – Tablet Fundraising Drive The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) recognises the need to be socially responsible. In this regard, the JCA has sought to meet the needs of our students who are in need, by embarking on a tablet fund-raising drive during this academic year. The monies and tablets were donated by JCA staff (with the support of other donors). The financial donation toward the purchase, was just over J$1.2M. Here, Vice Chair of the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, Earl Stewart, accompanied by other JCA representatives, makes the hand-over to a student at Farm Primary School, Montego Bay, St James, in September.