DUBAI: Dubai Customs took part in Dubai Forum for Government’s Best Practices for 2014, organised by Dubai Government Excellence Programme in the presence of 32 lecturers and experts specialised in the fields of institutional learning, excellence and creativity.
During the Forum, Dubai Customs presented its advanced technological experience which enabled it to win the title of the Electronically Distinguished Government Entity in the 17th edition of DGEP 2013-2014. Moreover, Dubai Customs presented the Advanced Container Scanning System which won the Distinguished Technological/Technical Project Award in the 17th edition of DGEP 2013-2014.
JumaAl Ghaith, Executive Director of Customs Development Division said: “Winning the title of the Electronically Distinguished Government Entity and the Distinguished Technological/Technical Project Award in the 17th edition of Dubai Government Excellence Program 2013-2014 reflects the progress achieved by Dubai Customs in applying an integrated system for customs development through smart applications.”
“The presentation submitted by Dubai Customs to the Forum about the achievement represented in winning the title of the Electronically Distinguished Government Entity, included a summarised explanation of the information technology development initiatives successfully applied by Dubai Customs through adopting an excellent way for customs development based on the international best practices in this field through which it achieved its objectives represented in facilitating trade, promoting security, ensuring commitment and integrating the commercial supply chain,” Al Ghaith added.
Dubai Customs’ technological achievements include automating its external services at a percentage of 100% and its internal services at a percentage of 97%; saving more than AED 167 million due to the application of several information technology initiatives; saving more than AED 9 million as to information technology operational costs; and detecting seized items whose value exceeds AED 450 million. This greatly contributes in maintaining the national economy and community.
“Dubai Customs relied on a comprehensive strategy for developing its technological projects based on the latest standards, internationally-accredited work systems “COBIT 5” and the best practices applied in the information system and technology management, including ISO20000 and ISO27001. In addition,Dubai Customs’ strategy also included the application of best practices in the field of technological systems development and projects management, including CMMI and PMBOK, through adopting a methodology complying with DGEP standardsfor the category of the Electronically Distinguished Government Entity. So, Dubai Customs became the first GCC government entity to be evaluated as per the international standard issued by Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), ”Al Ghaith clarified.
Mr. Abdullah Mohammed Al Khaja, Executive Director of Customer Management Division said: “The Advanced Container Scanning System, presented by Dubai Customs to Dubai Forum for Government’s Best Practices 2014, is the first international comprehensive and innovated system integrating several technological techniques in an integral technological system using the state-of-the-art scanning devices. It is the latest international integral system for scanning and inspecting the containers and moving trucks by using radiological detection. It can scan 150 moving trucks within one hour. The System successfully reduced the cost of a container inspection at a percentage of 51% and the time required for a container inspection is also reduced at a percentage of 82%. This positively enhanced the customer satisfaction.”
“The Advanced Container Scanning System enables Dubai Customs to meet the continuous increase of containers capacity in Jebel Ali Port, as it is expected that such capacity will reach more than 29 million containers in 2020 when the Emirate of Dubai will host the Expo. This will increase the challenges confronting Dubai Customs in its capacity as the first line maintaining the safety of the community, in addition to its main role in facilitating the legal trade movement ,“Al Khaja added.
