Oman Customs is seeking ways for enhanced regional cooperation to provide better services to the private sector. It is working to ensure ease of doing transactions in the Sultanate of Oman.
Speaking to the Observer on the sidelines of the first Customs Investment Forum under the auspices of Brigadier General Saeed bin Khamis al Ghaithi, Director-General of Customs, at the Customs Headquarters on Tuesday, Saif bin Hilal al Maawali (pictured), Director of Customs Cooperation, said the department helps business people carry out their transactions smoothly and safely.
"We are seeking ways for increased regional cooperation in the GCC as well as the Middle East in a broader sense in order to help people carry out their transactions faster and safer. Cooperation can bring benefits to both parties," he said.
The Sultanate of Oman has a bilateral FTA with the US, a multilateral FTA with Singapore, and talks are on for similar trade links with the UK, China, Pakistan, South Korea and Australia.
"We have made importing goods via the Sultanate of Oman's borders easy through air, land and sea borders via Bayan. Besides, we have implemented unified procedures for all import-export trade and it is fully automated by the system, ensuring transparency and justice."
He further said that such a forum was organised to listen to the private sector companies about their concerns, issues and other challenges in their transactions with regional as well as global stakeholders.
"We are here to listen to the tradesmen, importers and exporters about their barriers and challenges in conducting their business in the country. We facilitate trade and commerce, enhance economy besides inspection and customs duty," Al Maawali said, adding that the customers can always turn to Bayan to know about anything, even before exporting or importing their goods, from Bayan, which makes doing business easy.
"Trusted tradesmen, and those who maintain their track record clean, are given consideration and procedures are made easier so that things can be easier for them," he said.
He further reassured that the private companies in the Sultanate of Oman could look forward to receiving more support and better facilities, and they should come forward if they require any support from the Customs.
"Oman is positioned in a strategic location and can be a hub for trade, distribution, export and re-export and all the private sector companies should make use of these advantages and grow steadily," he said.
Besides the General Administration of Customs, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the General Administration of Passports and Civil Status were part of the Customs Investment Forum which was organised by the Royal Oman Police represented by the General Administration of Customs.
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