International Customs Day & Week 2022

NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, JANUARY 30, 2022 9 management capabilities, among several others. If we are to fulfil the mandate of Jamaica becoming a global logistics hub, which it certainly can, then the transformation and modernisation of our customs sector, through propelling an ef- ficient data-driven culture, will be of significance. Instrumental to the process is ensuring that the right collaborations and synergies are formed; ones that will help to guide and foster the growth of the teams and systems that will play a role in leading this charge. The JCA, like the JMEA, plays a key role in supporting and nurtur- ing the success of our Jamaican manufacturers and exporters in an ever-dynamic trading land- scape. If we are able to build an environment that assists their trade and helps them to thrive, then this unequivocally results in a win for all of Jamaica. The JMEA applauds the JCA on its tireless work throughout the years to lead the enforcement of rules and regulations, procedures and systems that safeguard our national trading interests. We look forward to the continued partnership as we adjust and recover from the impacts of the pandemic. Together we are able to facilitate an environment that will spur socio-economic growth benefiting Jamaicans across all social strata. We wish for you a successful Customs Week and, furthermore, tangible progress as you make the effort to enhance our cus- toms mechanism through lead- ing a data-driven culture that will help to build a robust data ecosystem. JOHN MAHFOOD President Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association FORWARD CONTINUED FROM 8 O N BEHALF of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), I bring greetings on International Customs Day 2022, which this year is cele- brated under the theme: ‘Scaling up Customs Digital Transformation by Embracing a Data Culture and Building a Data Ecosystem’. The value of data cannot be over- estimated. It has been described as ‘the new oil’. First, organisations must understand how much data they own, and its value. How can we maximise this value for customers, partners and clients? The approach must be a strategic one, whether you are a small business or a gov- ernment agency. This theme looks at the ‘big picture’. Customs agencies play a critical role in regulating the movement of goods across borders and facil- itating trade. Technology is, more than ever, an essential tool in this process. One important element is the development of systems that incorporate and harness the power of data using technology. These sys- tems will evolve over time in accord- ance with the organisation’s needs, and so the digital transformation of Jamaica Customs is likely to be a continuous ‘work in progress’. A tai- lor-made data ecosystem, based on an analytics platform, can develop as an integral part of the process. Jamaica Customs is making tre- mendous progress in its digital transformation. As the implement- ing agency for the Jamaica Single Window for Trade (JSWIFT), re- markable progress has been made in facilitating online applications, payments and processing through a single access point and has sim- plified areas such as the scrapmetal export trade. Alongside this, the agency’s major technological imple- mentation is UNCTAD’s Automated Making tremendous progress in its digital transformation Messages Keith Duncan President, PSOJ PLEASE SEE DIGITAL , 10 CUSTOMS WEEK