Discovering new ways to serve Jamaica’s business community

THE SHIPPING Association of Jamaica (SAJ) joins the Jamaica Customs Agency in their celebration of International Customs Day 2018. We are pleased with this year’s theme, ‘A secure business environment for economic development’. We believe that it can inspire the agency to develop improved ways to create the enabling business environment which will bolster trade and motivate the customs to discover new ways to serve Jamaica’s business community.

We acknowledge the efforts that Jamaica Customs has made in automating most of their processes and in engaging stakeholders.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

We also acknowledge that the only way for our country to grow is for our various departments and agencies of government to engage in continuous improvement. For example, by streamlining procedures, tackling corruption, enhancing integrity, and facilitating the movement of cargo, Customs is making the business environment more stable. Fairness, business sustainability, and safety are all crucial elements which will accrue from these actions.

We also acknowledge that Jamaica Customs will face challenges from those who prefer not to adhere to the system, and we agree that there should be systems that will thwart their nefarious efforts. We do, however, expect that legitimate businesses will enjoy the benefits of the secure supply chain. This will lead to cost-savings and the potential for businesses to flourish, which will result in overall economic development.

The SAJ, once more, commits to working with the Jamaica Customs Agency in all its efforts to improve its business processes, strengthen and modernise its legal framework, and pursue initiatives which will lead to the development of a robust contemporary customs administration. We will continue to respond to the call for engagement and stakeholder participation, and remain hopeful that these interactions will bridge the divide between the requirements of Government and the needs of businesses.