UAE to join ATA Carnet chain

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has confirmed that it expects to start accepting and issuing ATA Carnets early next year, making the federation the 69th country to join the ATA system.

The announcement was made by Director General of the Dubai Chamber Hamad Buamim and Director General of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade Abdullah A. Al Saleh during the opening ceremony of an ATA Carnet seminar for UAE and Gulf Co-operation Council Customs, chambers and businesses last week in Dubai.

Organized by the Dubai Chamber, the gathering presented a first-of-its-kind opportunity for members to acknowledge the progress achieved towards the implementation of the ATA System in the UAE under the impulse of the Dubai Chamber and the guidance of Lee Ju Song, ICC Asia Director and Deputy Chief Executive of the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce.

WCF WATAC Chairman Peter Bishop and representatives of affiliated organizations, eager to issue their first Carnets for the UAE, were impressed by the Dubai Chamber’s knowledge of ATA Carnet technicalities. All were assured that the chamber is ready to play a full role in the chain and expressed thanks the Dubai Chamber’s trainer for their achievement.

The ICC World Chambers Federation (WCF) World ATA Carnet Council (WATAC) met for the first time in Dubai last week at the invitation of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
The WCF WATAC is the International Chamber of Commerce working body responsible for administering the international guarantee chain for ATA Carnets. The chain comprises chambers and business organizations that have been appointed by their national Customs authority to issue and guarantee Carnets.

Currently accepted in 68 countries, ATA Carnets are passports for goods that permit the duty and tax-free temporary export of goods. In 2010, Moldova and Macao became the latest affiliates to join the chain.
With a value of over $17 billion more than 150,000 Carnets are issued worldwide every year covering all kinds of goods such as commercial samples, professional equipment, goods for fairs and exhibitions.

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