Abu Dhabi Customs has signed a statement of cooperation with India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), aiming to foster innovation in bilateral trade by leveraging digital transformation and data exchange.
The agreement between Abu Dhabi Customs and CBIC also includes the implementation of a pilot project for a Trusted Digital Trade Corridor. This initiative falls within the framework of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and India, as well as the Agreement on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters.
The signing took place following a high-level meeting at the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum in Mumbai. HE Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, and HE Dr Abdul Nasser Alshaali, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of India, witnessed the signing by HE Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori, Director General of Abu Dhabi Customs, and Shri Vimal Kumar Srivastava, Chief Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai Zone-II.
During the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing cross-border trade through digital transformation and trusted data exchange mechanisms, with a focus on the Trusted Digital Trade Corridor. This initiative aims to improve efficiency, transparency, and integration between the UAE and India’s trade systems.
As part of this collaboration, both Abu Dhabi Customs and India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs will work together to develop a unified framework and technical architecture. This will be done in coordination with public and private sector partners. The objective is to create a practical and scalable model for seamless digital trade operations, leveraging data exchange and automation.
Abu Dhabi Customs and CBIC also expressed their intention to build on the outcomes of this pilot phase, with the goal of establishing a sustainable, long-term model for trusted digital trade corridors. This will further strengthen the strategic partnership between the UAE and India while supporting ongoing efforts to modernize and streamline customs operations.
