Eco
Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi on Friday directed border crossings to be self-funded, with customs and tax fees deducted prior to any financial transfers. He also stressed accelerating the border automation project. The Prime Minister's office reported Al-Zaidi visited the Border Crossings Authority and greeted directors and staff via video conference. He commended their efforts in protecting the nation's sovereignty, economy, and citizen safety, affirming crossings serve as the state's economic, security, and sovereign gateway. Al-Zaidi emphasized expediting crossing automation to end fraud, corruption, and manipulation. He instructed connecting all crossings to a robust electronic system and submitting daily comprehensive reports on operations and revenues, advocating global best practices in management. The Prime Minister ordered self-funding for crossings, with tax and customs fees deducted first before transfers, and service fees allocated for their rehabilitation and development. Al-Zaidi asserted anti-corruption in crossings is a top priority, with the next phase seeing unprecedented, decisive measures. He stressed that smuggling narcotics, medicines, evading agencies, and other forms are dangerous crimes targeting society and threatening citizens, vowing no leniency with perpetrators. For his part, Omar Adnan Al-Waeli, Chairman of the Border Crossings Authority, reviewed the Development Road project's importance after its implementation agreement signing with Turkey. Al-Waeli explained the road's railway and land routes, its potential connections via Syria and Saudi Arabia, and linking stations with governorates. Al-Waeli also presented efforts to develop crossing operations: activating a robust electronic transit system, integrating with ASYCUDA, addressing unofficial crossings, controlling financial transfers, combating drug smuggling, reviewing customs exemptions, and countering forged tax receipts. The Chairman informed the Prime Minister of increased customs revenues this year, following the adoption of a robust electronic mechanism to control truck movements and the rehabilitation of crossings to enhance services, thus bolstering their national economic protection capacity.
