Agreement signed to promote the exchange of information and enhance customer service performance

Abu Dhabi, 21 June 2015

The Department of Finance - Abu Dhabi (DoF), represented by the General Administration of Customs, recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the General Authority for Regulating the Telecommunications Sector (TRA), at the General Administration of Customs' premises in Abu Dhabi. The MoU is designed to strengthen cooperation between the two parties as well as promote the exchange of information and enhance customer service performance.

Mohammed Khadim Al Hameli, Acting Director General of the General Administration of Customs - Abu Dhabi and Eng. Majid Sultan Al Mesmar, TRA Acting Director General signed the MoU. The signing ceremony was also attended by Mubarak Matar Al Mansouri, Executive Director of Customs Operations at the General Administration of Customs; Salem Saeed Al Rumaithi, Executive Director of Technical Affairs Sector at the General Administration of Customs; Matar Showileh Al Mansouri, Executive Director of Marine Operations at the General Administration of Customs and Meshaal Al Sabousi, Quality Control Specialist at TRA.[MK1] 

The terms of the MoU include exchanging knowledge and data concerning: banned telecommunications devices, spy gadgets and the companies that import them and blacklisted individuals. The MoU also aims to strengthen collaboration between the two parties on handling and controlling harmful substances, exchanging administrative experience, and providing consultancy and impact assessments on community protection and security.

Commenting on the MoU, Mohammed Khadim Al Hameli stressed the need for various government entities to collaborate and activate joint work procedures to enhance performance. He said: "At the General Administration of Customs - Abu Dhabi, we are committed to working with our strategic partners to support Abu Dhabi's economic growth and facilitate cross border trade movement, and in turn maintain safety and security across the local community."

Eng. Majid Sultan Al Mesmar, TRA Acting Director General, highlighted that the signing of the MoU is a positive step, which will drive the exchange of information and allow both parties to take advantage of all joint work opportunities.

He said: "Signing this MoU reflects TRA's continuous commitment to consolidate relations with various government entities. This is based on our strategic plan to build trust and work together as a unified team."

Al Mesmar added: "Through this cooperation, we aim to provide our customers with around the clock solutions, and deliver high quality, advanced IT services to ensure that customer applications are completed in a safe and efficient manner. The MoU provides a platform for each party to access data through various advanced channels of communication, facilitating the exchange of information and enhancing  government institutional work. This will speed up the application process and improve customer satisfaction."

In regards to training, the MoU stipulates a requirement for both parties to organise a series of training sessions and workshops to explain the terms of the MoU and methods of detecting and handling banned devices, as well as means of cooperation to implement testing and inspection procedures for telecommunications gadgets.

In terms of technical communications, both parties are required to implement processes to develop the e-link system, create work plans and programmes, as well as link the prohibition and restriction systems adopted by both parties.

The General Administration of Customs- Abu Dhabi and TRA will establish a joint work team and assign liaison officers to monitor compliance with the agreement from both parties, identify cooperation processes to facilitate the access of information, develop and implement action plans as well as create reports to track the outcomes of the agreement.

-Ends-

For more information:
Mary Khamasmieh/ Mira Assaf    
Weber Shandwick
Phone:  +971 50 2731753/ +971 50 3123518
Fax: + 971 2 449 4833                               
Email: mkhamasmieh@webershandwick.com; massaf@webershandwick.com   

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© Press Release 2015