By Yunus S Saliu
As part of its corporate plan 2020-2024 strategic objectives, the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) embarked on a weeklong stakeholders’ sensitization seminar on Automated System for Customs Data World Implementation known as ASYCUDA.
The ongoing seminar is holding at the Senegambia Beach Hotel and it brought together different stakeholders, officials of the GRA, media personnel among others.
GRA with support from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, African Development Bank and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Bank is implementing the ASYCUDA World, which is the latest Customs Web Based System for Customs Business Operations.
In his opening comments, Yankuba Darboe, Commissioner General of Gambia Revenue Authority highlighted on main reason for this reform which he categorized under twofold, “one is to facilitate international trade and two to bring efficiency in the clearance of goods and boost revenue mobilization.”
CG Darboe noted that provision of efficient services to their customers is an integral part of their business planning and development process as their customers are crucial for achieving and sustaining improved performance.
“We are cognizant of the fact that for the successful implementation of this reform, we need to journey together hand in glove right from the beginning of this project to the end,” he expressed.
However, the Commissioner General emphasized that the seminar was meant to introduce the stakeholders to the change, as in “this seminar, you (stakeholders) will be taken through different areas like reason for ASYCUDA World, advantages of the system, how this change is going to impact on you and your respective roles and responsibilities among others.”
Commissioner of Custom Ismaila Jallow, gave a comprehensive background of the project noting that the ASYCUDA World is designed in a project format which is a move away from doing business as usual concept but to now a functional feature of GRA ‘courtesy of the leadership of the GRA Commissioner General.’
He went on outlining functions of various units of GRA as regarding the Automated System for Customs Data World Implementation (ASYCUDA) saying they are adequately trained.
Mr Manjang on behalf of director of project coordination unit Ministry of Finance also expatiated on Automated System for Customs Data World Implementation.
