Government Advisor: ASYCUDA System is a Vital Tool for Developing Customs Work and Boosting International Trade, 14 JAN

  Government Advisor: ASYCUDA System is a Vital Tool for Developing Customs Work and Boosting International Trade

The Prime Minister's Advisor for Financial Affairs, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, reviewed today, Sunday, the importance of adopting the ASYCUDA system in customs administration, noting that it reduces delays at ports and boosts international trade.

Saleh told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "ASYCUDA is a customs data management system developed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) since the eighties of the last century, as this system aims to simplify and accelerate customs and border crossing operations using modern digital technology, according to the generations of the system applied, including the second advanced generation that relies on cloud digital technology."

He added that "in line with the government program to enhance the efficiency of collecting non-oil revenues and make them no less than 20% of total revenues, the Ministry of Finance and government support agencies have taken the step of joint cooperation with the United Nations to develop customs control and collection systems and control the movement of imports and exports in accordance with the best digital measures in applying customs tariffs on incoming imports and conducting matches with countries of origin."

Saleh continued that "the General Authority of Customs and the Border Ports Authority completed the procedures for working with the ASYCUDA system last year and are progressing in the new year 2025, including providing high-quality digital infrastructure," noting that "the importance of implementing the ASYCUDA system is that it provides comprehensive automation of customs operations, such as data recording, fee assessment, customs clearance, and records management."

The Prime Minister's Advisor for Financial Affairs explained that "this system reduces delays at border crossings and increases efficiency, in addition to enhancing transparency and disclosure of traded materials, and most importantly, it reduces corruption by reducing direct human interaction and adopting a reliable electronic system for recording and processing data," noting that "the increase in customs revenues that occurred last year was due to ASYCUDA's role in improving the process of assessing customs duties and taxes, which ensures fair and accurate collection of revenues."

Saleh explained that "the system enhances international trade by reducing administrative obstacles and allowing for the acceleration of the clearance process, which encourages the growth of trade between countries, and helps support analysis and statistics, and even provides a comprehensive database on the movement of goods across borders, which supports decision-makers in setting economic and trade policies. As for improving border security, the ASYCUDA system allows for better tracking and inspection of shipments, which helps combat smuggling and illegal activities."

He stated that "the ASYCUDA system is a vital tool for developing customs work and achieving a balance between facilitating trade and protecting borders, which makes it a fundamental pillar of any modern customs system, as Iraq is among the group of Arab countries that apply this system in an integrated manner in ports, airports and land borders, including Jordan, the Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt."link