Doha: In a historic year for Qatar, the General Authority of Customs (GAC) was essential as Qatar expanded business operations around its borders and welcomed visitors for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Earlier in the year, the GAC and the World Customs Organization (WCO) signed a memorandum of understanding to accredit the Customs Training Center as a regional training centre with WCO. It will work with the latest internationally-approved training specifications. The MoU was signed by Chairman of GAC H E Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Jamal and WCO Secretary-General Dr. Kunio Mikuriya during a virtual meeting held via video conference.
The training centre has since graduated several clusters of Customs officials. The Center, concluded seven weeks constitutive course (31) for new employees, during which they were trained in the rules and laws of administration and fieldwork by a group of experts and specialists from inside and outside the Authority.
Around 33 new customs inspectors and security, cadres benefited from one of the training conducted earlier this year.
Furthermore, the GAC also launched its new visual identity, which included changing the official logo with a new logo that fits with the future phase of its journey.
The inauguration of the new identity coincided with World Customs Day, celebrated annually on January 26. The new logo is shaped like “the falcon’s eye” and indicates visual acuity, constant vigilance, and control in various circumstances. The letter C refers to the first letter of the word “customs” in Arabic. The dot of the letter C in the design presents two opposite arrows, indicating the role of customs in the import and export processes.
The upper curve in the logo symbolises the economic development indicator, showing the importance of customs in supporting the national economy. It also indicates that the GAC constitutes a protective shield to protect society.
Two versions of the logo were approved according to the nature of use, namely (General Authority of Customs) and (Qatar Customs).
Partnership with private sector
Also, in 2022, the GAC boosted its partnership with the private sector via the unified GCC Authorised Economic Operator Programme. The initiative would facilitate international trade movement in line with the standards of the World Customs Organization.
The pilot phase, a transitional phase from the (current) national program to the Gulf programme, started on January 1 and is set to conclude today.
The GAC grants the GCC Authorised economic operator additional local advantages and incentives to facilitate customs transactions for approved companies.
These advantages are those approved in the current national program with the possibility of adding other benefits according to the accreditation category.
FIFA World Cup
Ahead of the World Cup, the GAC launched a programme to simplify customs procedures for major sports events in the country, with the World Cup as the target.
Enhancing customs services in preparation for the tournament, the Customs authority set up a dedicated unit for government agency procedures under its Sports Events Management System to facilitate smooth shipment approvals.
The programme was efficient and apt for customs procedures, simplifying processes through a single-window system for those seeking services from Qatar and abroad. It was carried out in coordination with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) and the Organizing Committee for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Customs authorities work together with policy and immigration services to combat the trafficking of people, drugs, weapons and counterfeited goods and verify that travellers with large amounts of cash are not laundering money, evading tax or even financing criminal organisations.
In this regard, the GAC also thwarted numerous attempts to smuggle banned and harmful substances into the country. At the airports, land and sea ports, the GAC officials using sophisticated equipment or via on-the-job experience, the GAC was always ahead of new techniques employed by smugglers – ensuring locals and residents are safe from harmful addictions and substances.
