Freight clearance becomes faster

DOHA: Freight clearance at ports of entry in Qatar has become faster thanks to efforts of a high level committee set up last month to address delays, the Minister of Transport H E Jassim Seif Ahmed Al Sulaiti said yesterday.
The Minister, who is  chairman of the Qatar Freight Solutions Committee  launched the committee’s website — www.qatarfreightsolutioncommittee.com — at a function at the Karawa Training Center yesterday.
“Earlier it was taking up to 48 hours to clear the shipments. Now the time has reduced to just three hours. We hope to make it even faster in the near future,” said the Minister, addressing a news conference.
He said the committee, comprising representatives from the ministries and departments concerned, has the mandate not only to suggest solutions but also to implement them. “There is a clear improvement in the situation just in a month after the committee was set up,” said the Minister.
He said the air cargo section at the Doha International Airport will be shifted to a new building early next month. 
The single window system for clearance (Nadeeb) that is already in place at the sea ports will be introduced at the airport in March next year.
There is also a plan to remove some warehouses at the Doha Port to give way to a bigger facility that can accommodate an additional 50,000 to 60,000 containers every year.
He said the new website will contribute to the efforts of the committee by providing updated information to the public.
“Through the website people can raise their complaints directly to the committee, instead of going to the press,” said the Minister. A hotline (for sea cargo) is available at the website round the clock  (8004433). 
He called on the citizens and all interested parties to complete the required procedures and formalities to ensure smooth and fast clearance of cargo.
Other committee members are Ahmad Ali Al Mohannadi, Director General of the General Administration of Customs, Dr Mohammad bin Saif Al Kuwari, Assistant Undersecretary for Laboratories and Standardisation ay at the Ministry of Environment,  Ahmed Mohammad Al Sada, Assistant Undersecretary for Environmental Affairs, Issa Arrar Al Rumaihi, Director of Airport Security, Ahmad Yousef Al Mass, Chairman of Qatar Company for Ports Management, Wassan Abdulla Al Baker, Director of Food Safety at the Supreme Council of Health, Mohammad Abdulazeem, Director of support of air freight, Abdullah Al Suwaidi, Assistant Director of Escorts, and Khamis Ahmed Al Mohannadi, Adviser of Office of the Prime Minister.
The Peninsula