The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized a two-day seminar on the ATA Carnet System in a bid to make businesses in the Gulf region aware of the advantages of the procedure, which allows the duty and tax-free temporary admission of goods, avoiding business travellers to go through the trouble of normal customs formalities.

More than 120 people attended the workshop 3-4 November from entities including chambers, banks, customs, shipping and export agencies, the Ministry of Economy and airport officials from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Khalid Ali Al Bustani, Acting Director General of the UAE Federal Customs Authority, said in a keynote address that the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) -- UAE, Saudi Arabia, Omar, Qatar, and Bahrain -- had agreed to try and join the Istanbul Convention before the end of next year. “We always strive to join global conventions that will directly help the growth of our national economy,” he said.

The Istanbul Convention, adopted on 26 June 1990, incorporates in one instrument all existing conventions or recommendations on temporary admission of goods, including those not yet covered by international accords.

“The Dubai Chamber is one of ICC’s most active members and has immensely contributed in spreading the organization’s trade facilitation work in the region,” Lee Ju Song, ICC Asia Director, told the workshop.

“This meeting will convince the regional organizations to internationalize trade and customs practices and will support the GCC’s initiatives to enhance the attractiveness of its member countries as destinations for business, sports, cultural and art events, trade fairs and exhibitions,” she added.

The Director General of the Dubai Chamber, Hamad Buamim, told the workshop that the chamber has not only been working to have the UAE adopt the ATA Carnet System but has been pursuing its implementation in the region with the support of the ICC World Chambers Federation. He said adoption of the system would help attract trade fairs, exhibitions, and cultural and sports events to the region.

“We are constantly working with our international partners to provide the business community with world-class services that will empower their businesses and help them establish stronger and more lasting business relations with their local, regional and global trading partners,” Mr Buamin said. “We feel that now is the right time to apply the system.”