International Customs Day & Week 2022

NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, JANUARY 30, 2022 6 Messages and transparency, with customer service at its core. Since being designated an executive agency in 2013, the JCA has embarked on im- proving its organisational structure through a long-term Modernisation Plan. In this regard, I welcome the theme of this year’s International Customs Day, ‘Scaling Up Customs Digital Transformation by Embracing a Data Culture and Building a Data Ecosystem’. This theme is quite fitting in 2022 as Jamaica is on the cusp of a digital transformation. Indeed, COVID-19 has highlighted the need to expe- dite the integration of modern technological systems into delivering products and services to consumers. To this end, the Government fully supports this thrust by the JCA to employ sustainable, data-driven strategies in its main- tenance of a high-quality customer experience. Importantly, functions of Customs are inte- gral to the efficiency of Government and the national security ecosystem and architecture. One of these functions is interdicting and seiz- ing contraband such as narcotics; this has made our ports of entry more secure. In addition, JCA fulfils the remainder of its mandate by collecting customs duties, processing passengers, weed- ing out customs fraud, shielding local industries and regulating trade. Considering this, I com- mend the JCA’s customers, staff and executive management for sustaining the synergy that has facilitated stability amid a pandemic. I must also congratulate Dr the Hon Nigel Clarke for steering the strategic policy direction of the team at the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, JCA’s parent ministry. The Government remains committed to customs reform to further strengthen systems at the JCA. To this end, this administration is committed to enact the necessary legislative changes fundamental to the continued trans- formation of the JCA. The new and focused Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs is also tasked to fast-track the pace of implementation of several legis- lative reforms. In the meantime, I encourage Jamaica Customs to continue streamlining its administrative systems to operate more effi- ciently in service to its customers – the people of Jamaica, its partners and stakeholders. As you celebrate Customs Week, I wish the JCA and its partners continued success as they engage in the week of activities and join other globally compliant member countries of the World Customs Organisation in celebrating International Customs Day, on January 26. THE MOST HON ANDREW HOLNESS, ON, PC, MP Prime Minister PARTNERS CONTINUED FROM 3 A LONG WITH our global counterparts, the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) is once again pleased to observe International Customs Day, 2022, under the theme: ‘Scaling up Customs Digital Transformation by Embracing a Data Culture and Building a Data Ecosystem’. This year’s theme underpins the critical role of the use of digital technology within Customs administrations. The importance of digitalisation and the effective use of the resulting data is a catalyst for change, and the recognition that people remain the key link or the centre of an ever-changing and dynamic Customs ecosystem. Globally, the processes and services de- livered by Customs and partnering Border Regulatory Agencies (BRA) are changing rapidly to reflect customers evolving ex- pectations in relation to trade and travel. Therefore, it is imperative that the JCA con- tinues to re-engineer and optimise its busi- ness processes, innovate and implement Information Communication Technology (ICT) solutions towards improving efficiency, quality and service delivery standards, and ultimately the customer experience. IMPLEMENTING DIGITAL SERVICES TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY In recent years, significant progress has been made towards achieving these goals during a period when Customs services have been adversely impacted by the global health crisis. In addition to managing and mitigating the challenges the pandemic has posed to our day-to-day operations, the agency continues to make significant progress on a range of modernisation measures. In several core service areas, the agency has transformed and enhanced its auto- mated ecosystem, which now includes the Jamaica SingleWindow for Trade (JSWIFT). The implementation of JSWIFT has done much to redress operational constraints, creating, as it has, a single portal that serves to improve trade locally and internationally for regulatory Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) involved in the issuance of licences, permits, certificates, and other approvals required for cross-border trade. Meanwhile, achieving full integration and digital improvements between the Automated Customs Management System, ASYCUDAWorld, and the Port Community System (PCS) have allowed customers to benefit from improved logistics services. The months ahead will bring further improve- ments to our import and export clearance procedures as we enhance our ASYCUDA World System and complete upgrades to our website with more payment options, online auctioning services, track and trace facility and other digital capabilities. Additionally, the agency launched several online services, including the Returning Residents Application & Approval Process, Refunds Applications and our ePayment Platform. Thus, improving ease of access and convenience to our customers and clients. Undoubtedly, the tremendous progress made by the JCA towards digital transfor- mation and fostering a data ecosystem has been achieved through significant invest- ments in tools, technology and the collabo- rative efforts of staff, industry partners and stakeholders. In the coming years, emerging technol- ogy such as Big Data, Block Chain, artificial intelligence, drones, facial recognition, and machine learning will play an even greater role in the administration of Customs ser- vices. Hence, the JCA will continue to adapt to these new technologies, where applica- ble, with the aim of further enhancing our integrated ecosystem that fosters simplified and convenient services while improving border management with local and inter- national partners. BUILDING A DATA-DRIVEN CULTURE TO INFORM STRATEGIC DECISIONS It is widely accepted that a data-driven culture is critical to any digital transforma- tion process. In order to further improve efficiency, Customs administrations, such as the JCA, must pay close attention to the rising importance of ‘Big Data’ to increase transparency and certainty in key strategic decisions. As such, we continue to expand the data-driven initiatives and related ser- vices within the agency that will provide our officers with accessible, reliable, and secure systems. For example, Customs’ ability to obtain, process, and analyse large amounts of quality data is key to strengthening our processes and supporting robust risk man- agement systems. Importantly, we are expanding our in- ternal capacity in an effort to augment the effective management of data in compli- ance with our core mandates, hence the fostering of a data-driven culture. Of note is that the agency has adopted the World Customs Organisation’s Data Model which provides data sets for different customs procedures and information required by other border regulatory agencies. This ini- tiative has further advanced the adoption and adherence to international standards, allowing for seamless interactions between Customs, the BRAs and other international partners. DIGITISATION FOR THE FUTURE The JCA will continue to implement and enhance, where necessary, systems and processes, in furtherance of our mandates, in line with Jamaica’s Vision 2030: National Development Plan. I extend gratitude to the hard-working staff of the agency for their commitment and dedication, to our partners for their support, and to our stakeholders for their constructive feedback. As an agency, we will continue to give of our best, and to live our motto: ‘Country Above Self’. VELMA RICKETTS WALKER, JP CEO/Commissioner Jamaica Customs Agency Accelerating the use of digital solutions and data to improve the customer experience Velma Ricketts Walker, JP CEO/Commissioner Jamaica Customs Agency CUSTOMS WEEK