ABU DHABI: As part of its efforts to help foster regional business ties, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry shared its experience and expertise in the implementation of ATA Carnet system in the Kingdom by participating in a workshop organised by the Council of Saudi Chambers and Saudi Customs in Saudi capital Riyadh recently.
During the workshop, Mr. Atiq Juma Nasib, Senior Vice-President, Commercial Services Sector, Dubai Chamber, explained at length the benefits of the ATA Carnet system, its application as well as the mechanism the UAE adopted in the introduction of the system in the country, which was the first in the Gulf region to launch and implement since 2011.
Talking about the benefits, Mr. Nasib said that the ATA Carnet system reduces costs to exporters by simplifying border crossings, eliminating value-added tax (VAT) and Customs duties with the added advantage that Carnet holders are not required to post securities with the authorities. It also cuts red tape by allowing importers and exporters to use a single document for all Customs formalities.
He further stressed that salesmen, exhibitors, and other business travellers may make advance Customs arrangements at predetermined costs, visit several countries, use their ATA Carnet for multiple trips during its one-year validity, and return to their home country without problems or delays.
Mr. Nasib assured the Saudi officials of Dubai Chamber’s commitment to sharing the Chamber’s experience and expertise in the field while providing technical assistance to introduce the system in the Kingdom. Also participating in the workshop were H.E. Khalid Al-Otaibi, Secretary General, Council of Saudi Chambers, and Mr. Ali bin Yahya Al-Shehri from Saudi Customs.
The workshop was organised to inform Saudi business representatives about the implementation of the ATA Carnet system in Saudi Arabia, its functioning, legality, method of use, goods covered and the benefits the system offers to the regional and global business communities.
