Over 100 representatives from the local trading community this morning (November 5) were introduced to the benefits of a customs data model developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO) for facilitating international cross-border trade.
Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) and WCO with the support of the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau, the seminar aimed to enrich the understanding of the trading community as to how the WCO Customs Data Model could benefit businesses and governments in the long run through the effective and efficient exchange of customs data in a standardised electronic format.
Presenting on the progress of development of the WCO Customs Data Model in the seminar was the Senior Technical Officer of WCO, Mr. Dietmar Jost. As a key member in the Customs Data Model Project Team, Mr Jost has been closely involved in the development of the model.
In January 2002, WCO embarked on the development of the WCO Customs Data Model. The Customs Data Model aligns export and import data requirements and creates a single electronic structure. It provides uniformity in the customs data requirements and the format of submission for the trade to accomplish formalities for the arrival, departure, transit and clearance of goods in international cross-border trade, and all necessary customs regulatory requirements.
WCO has planned to launch the Data Model in mid 2005 for use in international trade.
By adopting a common platform for Customs data exchange, the trading community could be spared from repetitive data submission, reduce costs, and benefit from speedy Customs clearance and release of cargoes/goods.
A government spokesman said, "We believe that this seminar will enrich the understanding of the local trading community over the WCO Customs Data Model." Uniform data is crucial to Customs administrations to facilitate international cross-border trade and enhance clearance of cargoes/goods.
"In the long run, businesses and governments will be able to reduce costs resulting from a single, global data set and uniform format of electronic submission of Customs data," he said.
Ends/Friday, November 5, 2004