KOROR, Palau — Palau’s Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP) officially launched the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDAWorld) on Feb. 20 at the Palau Royal Resort.
The ceremony was attended by President Surangel S. Whipps Jr., Japanese Ambassador Hiroyuki Orikasa, Finance Minister Kaleb Udui Jr., UNCTAD Project Manager Dhanushki Sahabandu, and other government officials, business leaders, and members of the trading community.
ASYCUDAWorld, also known as AW, is an integrated customs management system used for international trade and transport operations. It provides a modern and automated environment for customs processes.
The project was funded by the European Union through the Improving Pacific Islands Customs and Trade (IMPACT) Project and implemented by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). With additional support from the UNDP and the Japanese government, Palau secured the AW system license.
“Since the EU-UNCTAD signing ceremony in September 2021, we’ve built the AW system for Palau,” said BCBP Director John Tarkong Jr. “This launch strengthens our ability to trade internationally.”
Tarkong emphasized the system’s potential to improve customs clearance processing, strengthen international trade capabilities, and ensure import safety and revenue collection.
President Whipps called the launch a “day of moving forward through technology.” He expressed excitement about the system’s potential to improve data collection and decision-making, ultimately boosting the economy.
Finance Minister Udui acknowledged the past reliance on paper-based customs systems and highlighted the benefits of AW, including improved data collection and regional collaboration. He also commended the dedication of customs staff and IT personnel on the project.
Sahabandu, the UNCTAD project manager, acknowledged the challenges of digitalization and commended the project team for their commitment.
President Whipps presented Certificates of Appreciation to customs staff members Joline Spesungel, Artin Hideyos, Ashley Adelbai, and Young Chin for their contributions.
According to ASYCUDA expert Rizwan Khan, “The AW system marks a significant step forward for Palau’s trade and customs administration.” He echoed the expected benefits of improved efficiency, data collection, and economic growth.
The launch of the ASYCUDAWorld system is a key step in Palau’s efforts to modernize its customs administration and facilitate international trade.