ASYCUDA - Automated SYstem for CUstoms DAta

In 1981 UNCTAD received a request from the secretariat of the Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS) to assist in the compilation of foreign trade statistics in their member States. This involved Customs clearance offices, and the modernization of Customs clearance procedures, to achieve quality results.

› Find out more about the background and origins of the ASYCUDA programme.

ASYCUDA offers rich client interfaces.

Full-fledged applications featuring secure e-Documents with rich client interfaces run on any Java-enabled computer connected to the network. They can be launched either from Web browsers such as Netscape Navigator or MS-Internet Explorer, or directly from an icon placed on the desktop.

› Find out more about the background and origins of the ASYCUDA programme.

ASYCUDA runs on Windows XP, Linux, Macintosh, Solaris and others.

The client software is automatically deployed and upgraded using the built-in Java Web Start technology. Most popular desktop operating systems are Windows XP, Linux, Macintosh, Solaris, AIX and others.

› Click here for further information about the Java Web Start Technology

ASYCUDA runs on tablet PCs or Personal Digital Assistants

Availability of the wireless Internet and new electronic devices such as light tablet PCs or Personal Digital Assistants have the potential to bring the power of e-Document applications to the field.

› Find out more about the background and origins of the ASYCUDA programme.

ASYCUDA Web services

Web services rely on open Internet standards and transport protocols to exchange data with clients which are popular “light” Web browsers such as Netscape Navigator or MS-Internet Explorer. The essential technological bricks of those Web applications are XML, Java “Servlet”, HTTPS and “HTML Forms”.

› Find out more about the background and origins of the ASYCUDA programme.

Availability of the wireless Internet

Availability of the wireless Internet and new electronic devices such as light tablet PCs or Personal Digital Assistants have the potential to bring the power of e-Document applications to the field. The specific user interface capabilities of the targeted electronic devices characterize the scope and complexity of HTML designs.

› Find out more about the background and origins of the ASYCUDA programme.

ASYCUDA features

ASYCUDA is a computerized customs management system which covers most foreign trade procedures. The system handles manifests and customs declarations, accounting procedures, and warehousing manifest and suspense procedures.

› Find out more about the background and origins of the ASYCUDA programme.

ASYCUDA preparatory phase

The ASYCUDA programme is planned in consultation with the Customs authority and related government agencies taking into consideration the particular trader and transport operator environment.

› Find out more about the background and origins of the ASYCUDA programme.

ASYCUDA objectives

The ASYCUDA programme is directed at reforming the customs clearance process. It aims at speeding up customs clearance through the introduction of computerization and simplification of procedures and thus minimizing administrative costs to the business community and the economies of countries.

› Find out more about the background and origins of the ASYCUDA programme.

UNCTAD and the Netherlands to cooperate in Customs sector

The Parties will develop an integrated ASYCUDA/export control system and its subsequent piloting in an ASYCUDA user country. Implementing the system will simplify export procedures and enable the use of electronic export certification. At a later stage, UNCTAD will make the system available to other beneficiary countries.

› Find out more about the background and origins of the ASYCUDA programme.

ASYCUDA Regional Support Centres

The network of the five existing ASYCUDA Regional Support Centres – well known by the users’ countries as they constitute the first line of assistance and provide a large part of the ASYCUDA technical and functional support as well as most of the training programmes and sessions – has been expanded this year with the creation of a new ASYCUDA Regional Centre for the Arab States located in Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic.