JCA to Acquire Eight New Modules for ASYCUDA

The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) has been approved for the acquisition of eight new modules to the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) World, as the Agency seeks to improve its services.

These include eCommerce Cargo, Integration with Postal Services, Small and Pleasure Craft Processing, Advance Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record (API/PNR) Data and Manifest Selectivity.    

ASYCUDA is a computerised customs management system designed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva, Switzerland, to administer a country’s customs. It covers most foreign-trade procedures and is used by over 90 countries worldwide.

The JCA will also be including additional advanced risk-assessment capabilities with the deployment of the new features to the ASYCUDA system, allowing for ongoing assessment, both at the manifest and declaration levels, for cargo and passenger. 

This was disclosed by JCA Chief Executive Officer and Commissioner of Customs, Velma Ricketts-Walker, at the Agency’s Anti-Corruption Panel Discussion 2022, which was held on August 31 at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel.  

The acquisition of modules, Mrs. Ricketts-Walker stated, is one of the ways in which JCA continues to employ the use of new technologies to access data in the anti-corruption fight.

“The increased use of technology is a critical component in stemming corruption, both internal and external to the agency. We have seen greater transparency, accountability and traceability resulting from access to real-time data, a direct benefit of digitalising our processes. This has enabled advanced risk assessment for smart targeting and further intervention,” the Commissioner explained.   

Mrs. Ricketts-Walker highlighted that integration and electronic data exchange between Customs, the Border Regulatory Agencies (BRAs) and other Law Enforcement Agencies have yielded positive results and will improve with the further inclusion of technology to integrate scans with the Electronic Declaration Processing System. 

The panel discussion was held under the theme ‘Combatting Corruption, My Fight, Your Fight, Our Fight’ and featured speakers from the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA); the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ); the Micro, Small and Medium (MSME) Alliance and the JCA.