ICT changed the way Customs and Government work

The Directorate of Customs and Excise in the Ministry of Finance says the integration of information and communication technology (ICT) will be a massive contributor to the success of customs organisations’ services.
A statement issued by the directorate on Tuesday during International Customs Day said this year’s theme ‘Digital Customs: Progressive Engagement’ focuses on the directorate’s dedication to the promotion and use of ICT to collect and safeguard customs duties.
It said the utilisation of ICT equally contributes to the facilitation of the seamless flow of goods, people, conveyances and money to secure cross-border trade free of crime and terrorism.
The Director of Customs and Excise, Commissioner Bevan Simataa (pictured) was quoted in the statement as saying ICT has become embedded and profoundly vital in customs and excise operations.
“ICT has transformed the way customs and Government operate – from the use of ICT in office automation, Internet and the dissemination of information, to making declarations or clearing systems,” he said.
He added that the directorate is making a bold statement as a customs community by further developing digital integration in order to simplify trading.
“This will help to increase operational performance and to facilitate the re-intervention and innovation of the way we do business.”
Simataa noted that the World Customs Organisation (WCO), to which Namibia is a signatory, has developed and continues to develop the use and appreciation of ICT for their intended purpose.
With its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, the WCO’s primary objective is to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of member states’ customs administration.
The WCO is internationally acknowledged as the global centre of customs expertise and plays a leading role in the discussion, development, promotion and implementation of modern customs systems and procedures.
“The technology landscape is changing rapidly, with a number of key trends emerging such as cloud computing, mobile tech-nologies, advanced analytics and information management, and each of these technologies affects our role of customs in different ways, and provides numerous opportunities to drive connectivity,” Simataa said.
He encouraged the use of ICT in the operations of customs, customs admini-stration and trade operations to increase productivity and greater economic growth.

NAMPA