Iraqi Customs achieve ‘historic’ revenues after applying automation system
A boat moored at the port of Umm Qasr in Basra, Iraq. Photo: AP
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraqi Customs announced on Tuesday that it achieved a historic rise in revenue during the first quarter of 2024, expecting further increases once the automation initiative is completed.
In a statement to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), the Director-General of Iraqi Customs, Hassan Al-Ukaily, explained that Iraqi Customs achieved a 28 percent increase in revenues during 2022 and 2023.
Al-Ukaily illustrated that Iraqi Customs achieved a 120 percent increase during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, describing the increase as the highest since Iraqi Customs was founded.
The growth is a result of measures taken by Iraqi Customs to facilitate customs clearance procedures and the application of an automation system, according to Al-Ukaily.
The Iraqi official indicated that Iraqi Customs is working on applying the automation system to all Iraqi ports, adding that the process will be completed in mid-2025.
Al-Ukaily noted that Iraqi Customs is looking forward to achieving a 100 percent increase in revenues in 2024 compared to 2023, adding that revenues might potentially triple after the automation system is fully applied.