Dubai, UAE, 23rd May 2017:  Dubai Customs signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian Charles Sturt University’s Centre for Customs and Excise Studies to establish an academic research center, and develop measuring tools for the Authorized Economic Operator AEO Program to make it an international benchmark. 

The MoU was signed by Eman Badr Al-Suwaidy, Director of Customs Declaration Management, Owner of AEO and Dr Daniel Evans, Representative of Centre for Customs and Excise Studies in the UAE. 

The MoU will adopt the best practices in customs field by presenting scientific researches and organizing training courses. 

Commenting on the signing of the MoU Eman Badr Al-Suwaidy said: “Dubai Customs plays a pivotal role in trade and a leader in customs business, this is why we signed this MoU. We always do our best to keep abreast with the latest technologies and practices in order to deliver the best services and help Dubai maintain its distinctive status as a regional and global trade hub. It’s very important to cooperate with the Centre for Customs and Excise Studies, the leading international customs educations center.   

Dubai Customs’ AEO program has the best benefit package in the world and is the first AEO program with benefits for transshipment of goods. It is also the first AEO program that smartly measures compliance, speed and predictability. It makes the flow of goods faster and more predictable than anywhere else in the World. AEOs are expected to save 25% of operational costs,” Al Suwaidi said according to Albawaba News.

The AEO is one of the pillars of the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade (SAFE Framework), aimed at enhancing the security in the international supply chain while facilitating global trade.

An effective AEO program requires a true partnership between the customs administration and all agents in the international supply chain. The rationale of the AEO program lies in the voluntary compliance with the applicable customs rules and regulations, and WCO supply chain security standards, in return for being granted a number of advantages and incentives.