The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) today (January 13) presented certificates to eight companies to recognise their trusted partnership status with the department under the Hong Kong Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programme.
With the addition of the above eight companies, the number of Hong Kong AEOs has reached 36 since the launch of the Programme in April 2012. They include multinational as well as small and medium-sized enterprises engaging in importing/exporting, manufacturing, freight forwarding and terminal and warehouse operating businesses in Hong Kong. Accredited as AEOs, they are entitled to clearance facilitation benefits such as reduced inspection and prioritised clearance.
The development of AEO programmes has become a global trend. A large number of economies have rolled out their programmes and some of them have established Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) among themselves. Under MRA development, AEOs of two signatory economies can enjoy clearance benefits provided by each other. Currently, the C&ED has ratified MRAs with seven Customs administrations of Hong Kong's principal trading partners, namely those of the Mainland, India, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Japan.
The Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Excise and Strategic Support), Mr Jimmy Tam, exchanged the Action Plan/Work Plan with the Deputy Consul-General of Mexico in Hong Kong and Macao, Mr Saúl Zambrano Barajas, and the Head of Trade Section, European Union (EU) Office to Hong Kong and Macao, Mr Alessandro Paolicchi, respectively during the ceremony today to formally commence the discussion of MRAs with Mexico and the EU.
More details of the HKAEO Programme are available at the dedicated website of the Programme: www.customs.gov.hk/en/trade_facilitation/aeo.
Ends/Friday, January 13, 2017
