Japan Grant to Help IRICA Buy Equipment

Japan has extended $7 million as grant to the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration to procure X-ray machines, says IRICA chief Masoud Karbasian.

Karbasian noted that up until now two X-ray machines have been installed in Shahid Rajaei Customs Office. 

IRICA has the highest number of X-ray machines in the Middle East and enjoys advanced security systems, including the Global Positioning System and Radio-Frequency Identification as well as drug detection dogs, IRNA quoted Karbasian as saying.  

Back in September 2016, IRICA and the Ministry of Defense signed an agreement for the ministry to provide new domestically-made cargo scanning equipment. 

Based on the agreement, researchers at the defense establishment agreed to equip the customs with five new truck cargo x-ray systems.

Last month, Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayyebnia said the implementation of the “Integrated Customs System” has led to a 40% increase in IRICA’s revenues in the current Iranian year (started March 20, 2016) over the previous year. 

“It has also helped fight smuggling by improving transparency and business environment,” he said. 

In the past three years, the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration has carried out major reforms to improve its services and cut red tape to increase revenues. These changes have been collectively introduced as the Integrated Customs System.

To this end, the IRICA has also replaced a number of customs documentations with electronic database to create a more efficient and modern customs environment.

Other changes include automatic authentication, automatic designation of customs officer based on rules and regulations, issuance of electronic green cards, smart weighing, issuance of electronic invoices from warehouses and online transit declaration.