Palestinian economy wins boost from online programme for customs – UN
International businesses based in the West Bank are set to benefit from a state of the art web-based system for tracking goods coming in and out of the area, launched today by Palestinian customs in partnership with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
International businesses based in the West Bank are set to benefit from a state of the art web-based system for tracking goods coming in and out of the area, launched today by Palestinian customs in partnership with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
The online system, known as ASYCUDA WORLD, will speed up transactions and lower costs for Palestinian exporters and importers, according to a news release issued by UNCTAD.
Palestinian customs clearance agents and private trading companies will be able to process customs declarations and related documents electronically from their own premises without having to visit customs offices.
UNCTAD said that the new software, the final stage in upgrading Palestinian customs’ computerized system, is also expected to improve the customs authority’s risk management and post-auditing processes, reduce fraud and smuggling, provide better data to inform public policy and increase customs and tax revenues.
The launch ceremony – sponsored by Salam Fayyad, Palestinian Authority Prime Minster and Minister of Finance – was held in Ramallah, and attended by representatives from the European Commission (EC) and UNCTAD, the main partners for the Palestinian customs modernization programme.