COVID-19 has dramatically changed our day to day lives, with supply chains and revenue collection expected to be significantly disrupted all over the world. In such emergencies it is paramount to secure contingency delivery and be agile and adaptable.
The main objective during the Covid-19 crisis was therefore to maintain supply chains and revenue collection in an environment where traditional operations were severely restricted. A survey of countries where Webb Fontaine is active shows that over 80 percent of countries adopted broad measures affecting the economy (lockdown, distant communication) and to a lesser extent closure of business and relaxation of revenue collection. In that context, Customs authorities adjusted some of their procedures: Covid-19-related measures taken to address the pandemic by Customs Administrations from across several continents and many countries were examined during a set of Webb Fontaine webinars. Some measures were introduced across-the-board, while others were directly focused on the supply chains and the clearance of goods.
The COVID-19 Customs & Trade report explores key themes and ideas around these newly adopted measures. It examines how international best practice could be factored when dealing with such emergencies, recommends possible immediate action in critical situations, and attempts to draw conclusions from lessons learnt and how they could be integrated into an emergency recovery package.
The COVID-19 Customs report also demonstrates how measures taken during the pandemic can, if they are perpetuated, facilitate trade in a post-epidemic context and open up avenues towards improving clearance and security within a dematerialised clearance framework.
Former Head of Pakistan Customs Administration
Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Logistics in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority
Guinean Customs Inspector
Director of Institutional Reforms – Webb Fontaine Group
VP, Trade Facilitation at Oman Logistics Center within ASYAD
Director General of the Foreign Trade Single Window of Côte d’Ivoire
Customs Consultant
Comptroller Risk Management at the Nigeria Customs Service
Assistant Comptroller for ICT and Head of the Implementation Team for the Nigeria Customs Service
Chartered Accountant, Director of Studies and in charge of support to investment project at Benin’s agency for the promotion of investment and exports (APIEX)
Commanding Officer of a Major Customs Enforcement Division in Benin Customs
Executive Director, Technology & Projects Implementation – Webb Fontaine Group
Executive Director Sales – Webb Fontaine Group
Executive Director Sales – Webb Fontaine Group
Director of Projects Implementation – Webb Fontaine Benin
Managing Director – Webb Fontaine Nigeria
Director of Research & Development – Webb Fontaine Group