BIMP-EAGA - Customs Clearance

Malaysian authorities give green light to new i-CLID system

By Azaraimy HH Thomas Koh (2R), the Head BEBC TIICTD Cluster and President of Brunei Freight Forwarders Association. Thousands of cargoes going through the Brunei and Malaysia borders have to spend considerable time in Customs clearance at several checkpoints. This will be a thing of the past, with a new system called the Intelligent Clearance Identity (i-CLID), a BIMP-EAGA Cross Border Project that will basically connect an electronic tagging system with all the related checkpoints. The i-CLID system, which was initiated by the BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC) in Brunei, was given a thumbs-up and system go-ahead by Malaysian authorities during the BIMP-EAGA project deliberation at the 5th BIMP-EAGA Heads of Customs Meeting, a side event of the BIMP-EAGA 20th Senior Officials Meeting and 16th Ministerial Meeting that took place in Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao. "The system is undergoing its pilot implementation as we speak, and we hope that this will reduce the cost of doing business as a way forward for National Single Window," said Thomas Koh, the Head of BEBC TIICTD Cluster and President of Brunei Freight Forwarders Association. He added that the i-CLID is aligned with one of the BIMP-EAGA's three strategic thrusts, which is enhancing connectivity within its sub-region. BEBC acts as a voice and catalyst of the private sector to establish BIMP-EAGA as a model for Asean toward competitiveness and economic integration to contribute towards peace and prosperity in the region. The i-CLID project is a private-sector driven project that aimed to facilitate cross-border trade by leveraging on ICT technology as a tool through application of RFID and Web Technology. The signing of the MoU marked an important milestone for the ICT Working Group, especially in nurturing collaborations with the private sector, as its participation is the way forward to a speedy ICT development. The project proposed is to address cross-border issues and ease trade barriers, consisting of study, survey and data collection on cross-border activities, product development as well as the adoption and execution of the pilot project at Brunei's and Sarawak's borders, and eventually Indonesian borders. First to be introduced on Borneo Island, i-CLID uses the Single Window architecture for ease of integration with relevant authorities and agencies, to ease communication between the end users and the relevant agencies and/or authorities. Mr Koh said that BIMP-EAGA's goals and strategies on transport and logistics would help stimulate economic development, narrow the development gap, improve intra and extra-EAGA connectivity as well as improve the quality of transport and logistics systems. In the end, this will result in significant cost reductions and efficiency in doing business