The international customs community celebrated its International Day on January 26, 2021. On this occasion, the Director General of Customs, Mr. Abdourahmane DIEYE, expressed his confidence in the future of Senegalese Customs, based on the triptych (Revenue-Facilitation-Security). However, he indicated that this must be based on the computerization, digitization and modernization of procedures.
The Director General of Customs, Abdourahmane DIEYE, is confident about the future of Senegalese Customs, based on the triptych (Revenue-Facilitation-Security). He was speaking on the occasion of International Customs Day (ICD), celebrated every year on January 26. The 2021 event, whose theme is “Resilience, Recovery, Renewal: Customs at the service of a sustainable supply chain”, takes place in a health context characterized by the Covid-19 pandemic. On the final theme of Renewal, he pointed out that the future of Customs lies “in the computerization, digitization and modernization of procedures”, in line with the priorities of the Medium-Term Revenue Mobilization Strategy (SRMT) and the vast Customs Administration Modernization Program (PROMAD) currently being drawn up.
In his opinion, this axis emphasizes “the importance” of adopting cutting-edge technologies (drones, non-intrusive tools, etc.) and digitizing customs procedures. His conviction is that one of the lessons to be learned from this pandemic is “to promote, today more than ever, the digital economy by aiming for a high level of digital maturity in customs procedures”. “The dematerialization of procedures is already an achievement for Senegalese Customs, and serves as a foundation for the vast digitization and digitalization project”, he reminded us, assuring us that the Customs Department has already put into production a decision-support tool based on Business Intelligence (BI).
To this end, the Director General of Customs called on the World Customs Organization (WCO) to formulate and implement strategies based on three pillars: Resilience (by placing people at the heart of change), Relaunch (by strengthening collaboration) and Partnership and Renewal (by adopting cutting-edge technologies). On this occasion, Mr. Abdourahmane DIEYE praised the efforts made by Senegalese Customs in this direction. In terms of resilience, he welcomed the adoption of the Customs Department’s Action Plan, containing 14 measures in line with the Economic and Social Resilience Plan (PRES) drawn up by the Government. According to him, the DGD’s actions have focused on economic and financial stability, as well as ensuring Senegal’s regular supply of essential strategic products (hydrocarbons, medical and pharmaceutical products, and basic necessities). The DGD has also introduced new working methods, including a reorganization of the department, telecommuting and videoconferencing for meetings.
With regard to Relaunch, the second theme, the Director General of Customs underlined the existence of frameworks for reflection and exchange with the Armed Forces, the Police at an internal level as well as with bordering states such as Gambia. In this vein, he welcomed the holding of the second Senegalese-Gambian Presidential Council, which, he said, reinforces “the logic of coordinated border management, favoring collaboration with the administrations and services present at the borders”.
“Consolidating the supply chain
In this respect, Mr. Abdourahmane DIEYE pointed out that the programs currently being implemented, notably the interconnection of transit systems (SIGMAT) at sub-regional level and the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, are helping to “consolidate the logistics chain as a vector for recovery, combining both security and trade facilitation”. However, he pointed out that controlling the flow of goods by electronic means remains a major challenge. In this respect, he assured that the Customs Administration is committed to studying the Framework of Standards for cross-border e-commerce proposed by the WCO on this issue, with a view to adapting it to the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. Earlier, he expressed his deep gratitude to the President of the Republic and the Minister of Finance and Budget for their confidence.
