Improving Customs Transit Systems
In the Islamic Countries
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procedures allowing Customs to effective allocation of the resources, both human and
technology, and allowing Economic operators to use several types of simplifications in transit.
It is the objectives of this study to present an overview of OIC MSs CTR efforts. The study is
introducing the importance of well-functioning custom transit regimes (CTR), identify good
practices globally, and analyze the state of play in the OIC MSs comparatively.
It is therefore proposed to use a framework that allows for both a description and cross-country
comparison of the CTR practices in OIC Member Countries using 11 substantive criteria: Transit
Legal framework, ICT and efficient transit information management, CTR Guarantee
management and monitoring system, Transit Fees and charges, Simplification of formalities
with wide use of simplified procedures in transit, Risk management, Authorized Economic
Operators (AEO), Security measures, including the security of possible customs debt,
Coordinated border management, Partnership with business, and Performance Measurement.
Data collection methods - Three different data collection methods will be used to gather the
data required for this assessment: survey method, desk research, and in-country assessment.
Whilst it will do so at varying level of detail depending on the information collection method:
For three countries, information is collected through interviews and observations during the in-
country visits; for the remaining countries this information collection relies upon survey
responses and secondary resources.
Survey method - The survey questionnaire was circulated it to selected contact points in the
OICMember States (MSs). Two different channels were used for the dissemination of the survey:
Through the COMCEC Secretariat and through official contact points for Customs in OIC Member
Countries. The return rate on the survey was very low; only six MS submitted their replies on
the survey. Survey information was also complemented through desk research by the experts.
Desk research - In the past years, numerous studies have been published on customs CTR. Some
of these publications describe the CTR; others provide guidance on the CTR process, and again
others summaries and evaluate individual/bilateral/regional countries CTR practices. The
study addresses these publications, and the information was used to complement survey
information for the cross-country assessment.
In-country data collection - For three OIC Member States information were collected using
personal interviews and observations. The experts visited two OIC MS to interview
representatives of the Customs. To the extent that the Customs entities allow and facilitate the
CTR will be observed and statics on performance collected.
The results of the in-country data collection feed into the cross-country assessment and into a
case study. These two case studies provide in-depth details regarding the particular situation
with CTR procedure using the assessment framework used for the survey / comparative