Skopje, 8 March 2024 (MIA) – The risk management and data warehouse system will enable the collection of more income in the Budget, which means more funds for hospitals, infrastructure projects and schools, as well as the suppression of organized crime, said the head of the Customs Administration, Stefan Bogoev, who alongside the head of the Korea Customs Service, Kwanghyo Ko, officially marked Friday the beginning of the project for the implementation of a risk management and data warehouse system with a US$4.8 million grant from the Republic of Korea.

“Over the past period, together with experts from the Korea Customs Service we worked on a comprehensive analysis of the risks and appropriately identified the concrete needs of the Customs Administration, which should be covered during the implementation of the system,” said Bogoev.

The Customs Administration director clarified that the implementation of the system will enable better risk management, enhanced accuracy in identifying potential underreported duties, risk of incorrect customs classification or incorrect declaration of the origin of goods.

“It’s important to note that the decision to award a grant of US$4.8 million for the implementation of such a system comes after a three-year analysis by the Macedonian Customs, after which the Government of the Republic of Korea made the decision to award us the grant, as leaders in the region,” underlined the director.

Bogoev thanked the Korea Customs Service for their commitments regarding the development of North Macedonia’s Customs Administration.

“With Korea we formally established diplomatic relations in 2019, and this project is aimed at the enhancement of these relations. I wish the Korean project team and our team a successful work that should result in an event as part of which we will officially promote the system,” added Bogoev.

Kwanghyo Ko said the project is funded by Korea’s Official Development Assistance (ODA), and is significant because it marks the first time the Korea Customs Service is establishing an e-clearance system in the European region.

“The system will enhance work efficiency and facilitate logistics in North Macedonia through integrated information resource management and risk management. We expect that it will contribute to achieving EU membership for North Macedonia. Furthermore, along this project we hope to expand our cooperation in various areas at the first customs heads meeting today, including the signing of a customs mutual assistance agreement to build a stronger cooperative relationship,” he said.

The head of the Korea Customs Service said they would invest their best efforts not only for a successful implementation of the project, but also in continuous cooperation for mutual development.

Photo: MIA