His Excellency Governor Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Huqbani, Director General of the Saudi Customs Authority, received Dr. Mamdouh Al-Rifai, President of the Arab Union of Customs Executives, along with his accompanying delegation, at the Authority’s headquarters in Saudi Arabia.
The meeting discussed several Arab economic issues of concern to Arab citizens, introduced the Union, its goals, activities, and the steps it has taken recently through communication with Arab customs authorities and institutions in Arab countries. It also addressed ways to enhance the development of intra-Arab trade and the crucial role of customs in combating smuggling, customs fraud, and the parallel economy.
Dr. Mamdouh Al-Rifai praised the great efforts and role played by Saudi Customs in defending the national economy of the Kingdom and the achievement of the 24-hour clearance system. He requested cooperation between the Union and Saudi Customs to share the experience of 24-hour clearance with other Arab customs authorities, a request warmly welcomed by His Excellency.
The Governor invited the Union President to prepare a working paper to participate in the upcoming “Logistics Innovation Forum” scheduled to be held in March in Riyadh. He also welcomed the establishment of the Arab Academy for Customs Sciences in Saudi Arabia, in cooperation between the Union and the Saudi Customs Institute, through the signing of a joint cooperation agreement.
Dr. Al-Rifai emphasized that the Union aims, in cooperation with Saudi Customs, to raise the efficiency of customs executives through educational courses within the Kingdom.
At the conclusion of the fruitful meeting, Dr. Mamdouh Al-Rifai presented a draft cooperation agreement between the Union and the Saudi Customs Authority as part of the Union’s work plan to promote closer ties between Arab customs authorities to serve the economy and Arab citizens.
Attending from Saudi Customs were Mr. Faisal bin Saad Al-Baddah, Deputy Governor for Trade Facilitation, and Mr. Abdullah bin Ahmed Al-Barak, General Supervisor of Strategic Companies.
From the Arab Union of Customs Executives, attendees included Mr. Saadoun Al-Husseini, Board Member and Kuwait’s representative; Mr. Abdulghaffar Al-Bustaki, Board Member and Bahrain’s representative; and Mr. Abdullah Al-Tuwaijri, General Assembly member from Saudi Arabia.
