[13 November 2024; Koror, Palau] The Republic of Palau’s Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP) received an advanced server to host the recently implemented ASYCUDA, a state-of-the-art customs management software, streamlining customs and border processes.
The arrival of the upgraded server marks a significant step in enhancing Palau’s customs infrastructure.
The Director of the Republic of Palau’s Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Mr. John Tarkong Jr. said the server will become the backbone of the administration’s operations.
“It will manage customer databases, process online transactions, and store critical business data and without this server, our current modern businesses would struggle to operate efficiently and compete in the digital marketplace,” Mr. Tarkong Jr. stated.
Consequently, the server will allow BCBP to implement access controls, encryption, and data backups to safeguard sensitive information deemed “crucial in an era of increasing cyber threats and data breaches,” Mr. Tarkong Jr. said,”
The server is designed for high performance, reliability, and scalability, ensuring it can handle numerous simultaneous requests from clients.
Previously, BCBP relied on an older server to run ASYCUDA, which constrained the system’s performance, limiting reliability and scalability.
With the new server, BCBP now has greater processing power and expanded storage capacity, enabling faster transaction processing, improved data handling, and more efficient real-time communication with customs stakeholders.
This upgrade will support Palau’s ongoing efforts to modernize and optimize its customs operations.
The purchase of the new server was made through the European Union funded Improving Pacific Islands Customs and Trade (IMPACT) Project implemented by the UN Trade and Development.
The UN Trade and Development’s Regional Coordinator for the ASYCUDA Programme in the Asia and the Pacific, Mr. Jayvee Santos, said the Programme was proud to support the initiative.
“The high-performance servers supplied through the EU-funded IMPACT project will play a crucial role in modernizing the BCBP’s infrastructure. They will enable the handling of increasing volumes of data with greater speed and security, bringing additional resources to interface with other government systems, and prepare for the implementation of an electronic Single Window system,” Mr. Santos said.
3 September 2024 – Koror, Palau – Businesses dealing with excisable products in the Republic of Palau can now set up bonded warehouse facilities, marking a significant step forward in streamlining customs processes in the country.
This new development is the result of enhanced capabilities within the Republic of Palau’s Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP) through the implementation of the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)-backed ASYCUDA system. Previously, the absence of formal customs bonded warehouse processes in Palau, posed challenges for businesses to manage their duties and taxes efficiently.
With the introduction of ASYCUDA, the process has been fully automated, allowing for real-time tracking and management of excise goods in bonded warehouses. This automation ensures that customs processes are transparent, efficient, and secure, benefiting both the government and the business community.
The automation of these processes is supported by the European Union-funded Improving Pacific Islands Customs and Trade (IMPACT) project implemented by UN Trade and Development. By centralizing and automating customs operations, the ASYCUDA system enables better monitoring and control of excise goods, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
Benefits of Bonded Facilities:
1. Improved Cash Flow for Businesses: One of the most significant advantages for businesses is the ability to defer the payment of duties and taxes until the goods are released from the bonded warehouse. This flexibility allows companies to manage their cash flow more effectively, ensuring they do not have to pay the entire amount upfront.
2. Efficient Processing: The new warehouses are designed to handle excise goods more swiftly, reducing delays and optimizing the supply chain, leading to lower operational costs and faster turnaround times for businesses.
3. Enhanced Security: The facilities will operate under stringent regulatory standards to ensure the safe storage and management of excise goods, ensuring that businesses can store their products with confidence, knowing they are in compliance with all relevant regulations.
4. Facilitated Movement of Goods: By centralizing the storage of excise goods, customs processes are streamlined, reducing logistical hurdles and making it easier for businesses to move goods through the supply chain.
The BCBP has outlined specific conditions and regulatory requirements to ensure compliance and maintain high standards of security within these bonded warehouse facilities. Businesses interested in establishing a bonded warehouse are encouraged to review the detailed guidelines available on the BCBP website or contact their office directly.
For more information on how to apply and the conditions for establishing a bonded warehouse, please visit the BCBP website or reach out to the office at bcbp.pw.
In the competitive world of customs brokerage, efficiency is paramount.
The Republic of Palau’s Bureau of Customs and Border Protection recently implemented the cutting-edge ASYCUDAWorld system, developed by the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
This move has transformed the trading community’s experience, streamlining nationwide customs processes and mandating use of the automated system by customs brokers and agents.
KRW Company, a well-established customs agency with five years of industry experience, was among the first to transition from manual into automated customs processes.
For Ms. Avonlea Niro, a declarant at KRW Company in the Republic of Palau, mastering the intricacies of customs clearance processes on the digital ASYCUDAWorld system has been a journey of learning so far.
“Learning the ropes of the system was initially daunting, but with determination, I turned the challenges into opportunities,” Ms. Niro reflected. Ms. Niro had to immerse herself in understanding the complexities of the automated system, moving away from traditional paperwork.
One significant hurdle she encountered was navigating the online form-filling maze. However, the unwavering support of the ASYCUDA team at the Palau BCBP proved invaluable. Not only did Ms. Niro grasp the nuances of the forms, but she also learned the ropes of efficient submission.
“The ASYCUDA TEAM was instrumental in my learning journey, their guidance was invaluable in simplifying the process for my understanding,” Ms. Niro said. The advent of ASYCUDA brought a paradigm shift, revolutionizing Ms Niro’s workflow. The seamless, paperless approach not only saves time but also reduces unnecessary paperwork, allowing customs stakeholders like Ms. Niro to focus on efficient service delivery.
Simply put, she says,
“This system saved me time and papers. Now I don’t have to finish the paper or make two set of it (duplicate) and bring it with a flash drive to custom office. I can simply scan the necessary documents with the form and send it online and I just go back in the system to see if its ready for payment and go onwards from there.” ASYCUDA has been a game-changer for Ms. Niro in more ways than one. “I can now work from anywhere with an internet connection, it’s liberating!” The flexibility afforded by ASYCUDA allows her to seamlessly manage customs clearance processes, transcending geographical boundaries.
But it doesn’t stop there.
In Ms. Niro’s narrative, ASYCUDA isn’t merely a system; it’s a catalyst for efficiency, productivity, and customer satisfaction—a testament to the power of innovation in simplifying complex processes.
“The efficient and cost-effective system is even keeping our clients happy given that they also save money and clearances are faster than before,” she said.
Ms. Rushlyn Ueki, a declarant at Surangel & Sons Company, also highlighted her journey following the transformation. Ms. Ueki and her team were learning to grasp the system while at the same time trying to clear shipments for their clients on time.
“With ASYCUDA, things have really changed. Before it took us a week to clear all shipments and now it takes us only a couple of days,” Ms. Ueki added.
“Given our high standards of compliance, our company is on Green Lane now, and the processes are even faster.We don’t need to keep checking and waiting for validation. We can just process and we are ready to pay. This system saves us time and money.” she further elaborated.
Photo: Staff of Surangel & Sons Company (From Left) Dastin Darius, Declarant – Rushlyn Ueki, Jennifer O. Ingais, and Kimberly Elarionoff.
The impact of ASYCUDA is tangible. Following the January 2024 launch of the ASYCUDAWorld system, Palau witnessed a remarkable 53% increase in customs revenue by mid-March, compared to the same period last year.
This transformation was made possible through the European Union (EU)-funded Improving Pacific Islands Customs and Trade (IMPACT) project, implemented by UNCTAD.
About KRW Company: KRW Company is a customs broker company based out of Koror, Palau, a central area where about 70% of the commercial establishments are situated.
About Surangel & Sons Company: Surangel and Sons Co. is a diverse and thriving corporation located in the Republic of Palau.
About ASYCUDAWorld: ASYCUDAWorld is a cutting-edge customs management system by UN Trade and Development, aimed at simplifying trade and customs processes.
About the IMPACT Project: Funded by the European Union, the IMPACT project seeks to enhance customs operations through technological advancements and capacity building.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) continues to support the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP) through the Strengthening Border Management in the Pacific project by donating a new server to the agency. The server will be utilized as the primary host for the production of virtual servers to be included for the Customs system such as ASYCUDA backup, training and testing.
A ceremony was held on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at the Palau Royal Resort for the launching of the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) for recording of inbound and outbound cargos of the country.
The ceremony was graced by President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. alongside Minister Kaleb Udui, Jr. and Director John Tarkong, Jr. of Customs and Border Control who will head the operational system.
Funded by the European Union, ASYCUDA marks a significant step forward in Palau’s trade and customs administration. This integrated system automates international trade and transport operations brining Palau in line with global standards and facilitating smoother interactions with financial and economic partners.
“This system will incentivize investments in Palau,” President Whipps stated during the ceremony highlighting the system’s potential to boost Palau’s economy.
The Republic of Palau is committed to reforming its customs and trade procedures by rolling out ASYCUDA’s automated customs system. ASYCUDAWorld is expected to increase customs revenue and shorten clearance times. It will reduce paperwork and trade related costs while increasing transparency. To ensure a successful and sustainable shift to the new system, a well-informed and trained workforce is essential.
In light of this, customs officials from the Republic of Palau, are being provided extensive training to better understand ASYCUDAWorld ahead of the digitalization of the country’s customs operations. The training is being implemented by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Improving Pacific Islands Customs and Trade (IMPACT) project, funded by the European Union. It equips customs officials; traders; importers and exporters; agents; and carriers, with the skills required to efficiently use the system.
The first training took place from 20 to 30 March 2023, upskilling 31 officers from customs and 14 external stakeholders. A second training was held from 31 July to 17 August 2023 and involved 33 customs officers and 46 external stakeholders. A third training to 31 customs officers was held from 16 to 31 October 2023. All trainings were delivered by UNCTAD experts alongside the ASYCUDA National Project Team at Customs Headquarters in Koror, Palau, and consisted of two, three-hour sessions per day.
A fourth training is scheduled for December 2023 and will be open to private stakeholder entities, such as importers, exporters, agents and carriers.
The Director for the Republic of Palau Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Mr. John Tarkong Jr. said, “At this stage, we have successfully completed the third round of trainings for customs officers. The feedback from the participants has been overwhelmingly positive. It was noticeable that after the first two sessions, our officers were well acquainted with the system and the new processes. This is a testament to the effectiveness of the training approach and the dedication of the ASYCUDA National Project Team members to adapt to the new system.”
He added, “There will be an increase towards the effective collection of customs revenues and data. Additionally, reduced processing times and increased government revenues are also projected from this customs automation, modernization and reform project. With almost half of customs administrations around the world now relying on a common automated platform to support their respective customs clearance operations, it is important to realize the impact and benefits this will have on Palau and why Palau embarked on this project.”
Ms. Ashley Adelbai, who has worked at Palau Customs for a decade, said “It was enlightening to see how technology can replace traditional customs operations and provide a lot of benefits. There will be a significant reduction in paperwork, which will not only save our time but also reduce the chance of manual errors. Additionally, the ability to view and manage documents in one centralized place will make my daily tasks easier to manage.”
European Union Funding for UNCTAD ASYCUDAWorld Customs Management System Roll-Out
Ngerulmud, Palau. 25 August 2022
The Government of Palau has started work under the EU funded IMPACT project that will deliver a new customs management system to help the country increase the pace of customs clearance and boost its ability to engage in international trade. Palau will use ASYCUDAWorld, a customs management system developed by UNCTAD’s Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) Programme, to deliver the latest, cutting edge, customs technology. Processing customs paperwork manually is time-consuming and inefficient. It also requires traders to travel to import and export clearing points to physically present their documents, costing them time and money. A mobilization seminar was held 23-24 August to raise awareness among key stakeholders regarding the need for simplified and streamlined customs procedures, the potential benefits of fully automated customs clearance processes, and the specific supporting role of the UNCTAD ASYCUDAWorld system.
Surangel Whipps Jr., President of Palau, when opening the event said, “I want to thank the UN, the EU, and UNCTAD for their support in making sure that this ASYCUDA system is implemented in Palau. It’s really about partnership and without strong partners like you, we wouldn’t have been able to move this project forward to build a more prosperous and safer Palau”. He added, “I hope this will make it easy for traders to submit their reports. Hopefully this will help the business community, reduce the lines at the customs office and improve our customer service to the people that we serve”. ASYCUDA is UNCTAD’s largest technical assistance programme and currently has software running in over 100 countries, including 41 small island developing states (SIDS). ASYCUDAWorld will enable Palau to optimize customs procedures and boost government revenue by ensuring that all goods are declared and the correct duties collected online. When rolled out, the system will make cross-border trade easier, faster and cheaper for businesses in Palau, and for those wishing to do business with them. ASYCUDAWorld will also help Palau customs to gather reliable and timely trade and fiscal statistics to better support the government with economic planning and evidence-based decision-making.
Dr. Erja Askola, Chargé d ’Affaires of the EU Delegation for the Pacific, said, “The European Union aims to jointly address the challenges that Pacific States and companies face to benefit from accessing regional and international markets. Reducing the time Palau moves goods in and out is one of the many interventions we support in the Pacific to promote regional economic integration. We also welcome more countries of the region to join the European Union-Pacific States Economic Partnership Agreement”.
Palau Minister of Finance, Kaleb Udui Jr., added, “The Ministry is pleased to join over 100 nations in implementing ASYCUDA in line with international standards. This will expand trading opportunities and boost the capacity of the Republic, and will create a more transparent, less costly and more equitable trading environment for importers and exporters of Palau”.
“Customs plays a crucial role in supporting the economic competitiveness of a country. One that ensures that revenues are collected while the community and the environment are protected”, highlighted the UN Resident Coordinator for Micronesia, Jaap Van Heirden. The IMPACT project will support the modernization of customs administration and facilitate trade for Palau regionally and internationally. It will contribute to sustainable and inclusive prosperity in the region, which is an area of focus of the EU strategy for cooperation in the Pacific. The funding for the IMPACT project comes under the EU’s ‘Pacific Regional Integration Support’ (PRISE) Programme, which aims to increase trade between Pacific States’ as well as between themselves and the EU-27 Member States.
