Business & Money | Wednesday 16 November, 2016 5:20 am |

Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director of Dubai Customs, said the United Arab Emirates is one of the best countries worldwide and the first regionally and in the Arab world  in terms of intellectual property protection and anti-piracy fight, noting that  the country works hand in hand with the international community as part of cooperation and partnership agreements that are aimed at combating counterfeiting and piracy, and assuring intellectual property for all trademarks.

He revealed that Dubai Customs exchanged and reported a total of 196 intelligence information in 2015, and 364 respective intelligence during January-October 2016, through the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO).

“Dubai Customs recorded 139 cases of trademark infringement with a seized haul of counterfeit products worth about AED 49 million, making a significant upsurge from last year's total record of 135 confiscations valued at nearly AED 17 million,” added Musabih.

The Director of Dubai Customs was speaking at the opening session of the Sixth Regional Conference on Combating Crimes Against Intellectual Property, hosted in Dubai by Emirates Intellectual Property Association from November 15 to 16.

Ahmed Mahboob Musabih reaffirmed Dubai Customs’ commitment to curbing all forms of commercial fraud and counterfeiting. “The focus is on tightening customs controls across all Dubai border points, by enhancing  customs work processes through innovative methods and techniques that keep pace with this fast-moving world. This would suppress illicit trade, while  ensuring efficient clearance of goods or passengers without any unnecessary delays.”

Musabih further noted that Dubai Customs – inspired by the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for adopting innovation as a daily practice in Government work – has reinforced its business processes through cutting-edge innovations that have had a significant impact on facilitating and strengthening customs controls in the emirate of Dubai.

“Dubai Customs has developed and implemented its world-leading, state-of-the-art risk management system called Risk Engine, which speeds up the risk assessment and inspection process, and, at the same time, safeguards the community and the local and global economies against smuggling attempts and illicit trading activities of all kinds. We are also the first Customs administration in the world to utilize smart glasses in Customs inspection operations, in a bid to further simplify and accelerate  field inspection of cargo consignments in different Customs checkpoints. Furthermore, Dubai Customs has deployed the world’s first of its kind Bags Smart Customs Inspection System, known as Smart Table, in Dubai’s airports to efficiently streamline the clearing of passengers and luggage,” Musabih continued.

Once fully implemented and especially after signing of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs), the UAE Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Program, launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , Crown Prince of Dubai & Chairman of the Executive Council, during the recent Gitex, is expected to boost the flow of legitimate trade  and ensure a secure and reliable trade supply chain that is compliant with the principles and rules of intellectual property, he added.

“Dubai Customs is equally committed to training its staff through specialized IPR workshops, as well engaging all community members in the fight against counterfeiting and piracy, through raising public awareness and educating people about the dangers of counterfeits. We have organized IPR Summer Campaign 2016, targeting tourists and visitors of  Dubai as well as kids in summer camps and public places. This summer program benefited more than 31,000 people of different nationalities.

“DC also took part as a principal strategic partner in the Children’s International Film Festival 2016, which was held under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and  Knowledge Development, where we launched an IPR Filmmaking Award sponsored by Dubai Customs to nurture creative IP awareness ideas among younger generations.”

Ahmed Mahboob Musabih also affirmed that Dubai Customs IP Award for Schools and Universities has become a popular competition all over the UAE. Students from 130 schools and 22 universities contended for the nationwide IP award between 2008 –the year the Award was first launched– and 2015, with a total number of beneficiaries touching 88,000.

The Director of Dubai Customs hailed the efforts undertaken as part of the regional conference on combating crimes against intellectual property and wished that the event would be met with success for the benefit of all stakeholders, particularly by strengthening public-private partnership and cooperation to come up with sustainable solutions that would enhance business environment and push economic growth forward.