Importers Chamber: The Pre-Declare System for Shipments Not Up to the Desired Economic Benefits
Cairo – Nazik Shamam
The National Chamber of Importers has conditioned endorsing of the pre-declare system for shipments on its implementation through a national platform under the Sudanese government and according to specific prerequisites and requirements.
The Chamber’s head, Al-Sadiq Jalal Al-Din Saleh, has stated that the decision to implement this system was actually imposed by the Ministry of Finance without consulting them as stakeholders or taking their opinions into account.
In an interview with Sudanhorizon, to be published later, Jalal emphasized that the decision will not bring any economic benefits to the economy, aside from the enormous sums of money—tens of millions of dollars—that the foreign company monopolizing the system will reap, borne by the hapless citizen. He added that it will also encourage the informal economy and the leasing of licenses.
Jalal reiterated their rejection of the decision in its current form, criticizing the Ministry of Finance’s insistence on retaining the implementing company and its disregard for the conditions and requirements outlined by the Chamber in its letters to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance.
He revealed that some countries had implemented this decision through a foreign platform but later rescinded it after it impacted their national security, replacing it with a national platform.
Jalal stated that the government’s claims of the decision’s positive impact on the economy are merely a marketing ploy for the regime, and that the repercussions on the economy will be negative and disastrous.
He emphasized the existence of a shadowy entity that will implement the system, hiding behind the announced British company, which he described as a mere facade because it lacks the financial and technical capacity to establish a system for even a small business or a newspaper kiosk.
Jalal expressed his astonishment that exorbitant fees were being imposed on importers through this system without any legal justification. He pointed out that the system contains numerous loopholes that make it unenforceable in a country like Sudan, which is suffering from war and an economic embargo. He explained that the system’s implementation contradicts the principles of comprehensive application and fair collection due to the existence of customs zones and stations outside the control of customs and the state.
Jalal rejected accusations of weakness leveled against the Chamber for the officials’ failure to respond to and reply to its memoranda. He stated that the weakness lies with the entity that failed to answer legitimate questions, adding, “We are obligated to express our viewpoint, but we do not have the power to make decisions.”
The head of the National Chamber of Importers emphasized that Sudanese customs was forced to implement the system, which it is currently incapable of doing due to technical, administrative, and legal issues. He explained that its implementation will only lead to further complications and restrictions on the import process, as well as foreign entities gaining access to import information and data, thus undermining Sudanese national security.
Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=10339