Financial Advisor: ASYCUDA promotes international trade and reduces corruption at customs ports
Mawazine News – Economy
The Prime Minister’s Advisor for Financial Affairs, Mazhar Mohammed Saleh, stressed on Sunday the importance of adopting the ASYCUDA system in the Iraqi Customs Department, pointing to its role in reducing delays at border ports and promoting international trade.
Saleh explained that the ASYCUDA system, developed by the United Nations Trade and Development Organization (UNCTAD) since the 1980s, adopts modern digital technology to simplify and accelerate customs operations.
He added that Iraq is applying the second generation of this system, which relies on cloud technology to provide comprehensive automation of customs processes, including data recording, fee assessment, customs clearance, and records management.
He pointed out that the implementation of the system is in line with the government program to enhance non-oil revenues to reach 20% of total public revenues, explaining that the joint cooperation with the United Nations aims to improve control and customs collection systems and control import and export operations according to the best digital standards.
Saleh revealed that the General Authority of Customs and the Border Ports Authority completed the implementation of the system during the past year, while providing high-quality digital infrastructure to develop customs work in 2025, stressing that this system contributes to reducing corruption by reducing human interaction and adopting full automation, which increases transparency and supports efficiency.
He pointed out that ASYCUDA enhances international trade by speeding up the customs clearance process and reducing administrative obstacles, in addition to providing a comprehensive database that supports economic and trade policymaking, pointing to its role in improving border security by tracking and inspecting shipments more accurately to combat smuggling and illegal activities.
Saleh concluded by saying that ASYCUDA represents a vital tool to achieve a balance between facilitating trade and border protection, stressing that Iraq joins a group of Arab countries, such as Jordan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, which apply this system at customs ports in an integrated manner.
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