Dubai, Maldives to boost customs cooperation

Dubai and the Maldives will enhance bilateral customs and commercial cooperation amid their increasingly solid trade ties, the official WAM news agency said on Saturday.
Top customs officials from both sides held a meeting on Saturday that was focused on customs work mechanisms, procedures at the passenger operations department and the command and control room at Dubai Customs, WAM said.
The Maldives highly appreciated the cutting-edge work systems and mechanisms at Dubai Customs, which expedite cargo clearance procedures and ensure that consignments are controlled to facilitate the movement of international trade through Dubai, the visiting Maldivian officials said.
Bilateral trade between Dubai and the Maldives saw an 18- percent year-on-year growth in 2013 to 296.4 million Dirham (about 80.82 million U.S. dollars), comparing with the 68.55 million dollars in 2012, Dubai officials said, adding that trade might grow significantly soon after both sides launch a new package of integrated services in ports, airports and customs points.