Authorized Economic Operators
In the Islamic Countries:
Enhancing Customs-Traders Partnership
60
Figure 3.21. SMEs
Source: Authors’ compilation using survey data.
Theme 7: Accessibility of information on Customs Authority’s website about the AEO
program
Utilizing a website is the best way to provide consolidated, easily accessible and all-inclusive
knowledge about an AEO program. In other words, consolidated information supplied and
maintained by the Customs Authority is indispensable to the success of an AEO program.
Furthermore, a well-designed and informative website is known to serve as a promotional tool
as well.
Figure 3.22. Electronic promotion of the AEO program
Source: Authors’ compilation using survey data.
The overall convergence in electronic promotion of the AEO program is 66 percent. Among
the survey respondents, all AEO programs have websites in their local language (Figure 3.22).
However, information in English is either missing or very limited, which need to be improved
for the access of multinational corporations. All programs are missing fully online application
capability and only 25 percent have frequently asked questions about AEO programs on their
websites. Online application capability and FAQ are important tools to make the application
25%
63%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Specific Benefits for SMEs (including at
Application Stage)
SME Outreach Plan
100%
100%
38%
0%
25%
100%
100%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120%
Explanatory information of AEO Program on
Website
Contact information
Online forms
Online Application Capability
FAQ
Requirements to Join
Benefits of Joining