In cooperation with the Customs Affairs and the Information and eGovernment Authority, Payment International Enterprise provides the service of paying customs duties and taxes through self-service platforms.
Kingdom of Bahrain – Manama: Payment International Enterprise, a leading financial technology company in the Kingdom, in cooperation with the Customs Affairs and the Information and eGovernment Authority, announced the provision of a service for paying customs duties and taxes related to Customs Affairs through the self-service platforms of the electronic payment system. Providing this service is the first of its kind within the package of services available through the platform, which enables customs brokers, importers, and customers to collect customs duties in easy and convenient ways. This is a true reflection of the existing partnership with the government sector and an affirmation of its commitment to supporting the digital economy in the Kingdom.
For his part, Mr. Hamad Ahmed Buhiji, Director of the Financial Resources Department at the Customs Affairs, stated that the electronic payment service and the process of linking electronic payment to electronic payment platforms are one of the projects emanating from the Payment International Enterprise and one of the strategic objectives of the Customs Affairs through striving to provide distinguished customs services and facilitate procedures for beneficiaries. In line with the decisions of the Coordination Committee headed by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and the directives of His Excellency the Minister of Interior, the Customs Affairs has developed the electronic payment mechanism through the Payment International Enterprise platform directly with the Ofoq Customs System. It is worth noting that this service saves beneficiaries time and cost due to the speed of completion, eliminating the need to wait, and without any additional fees, which contributes significantly to the development of the automation of customs operations, a goal sought by the Customs Affairs.
Buhaji explained that this service, in addition to other electronic services provided by Customs Affairs, such as payment via the billing system and payment via the e-government platform, was launched thanks to the directives and regular follow-up of His Excellency the President of Customs and his constant commitment to development and achievement.
In turn, Mr. Abdullah Al-Jowder, Director of the E-Services and Channels Development Department at the Information & eGovernment Authority, stressed that providing this service stems from the keenness to enhance cooperation between government institutions and the private sector to provide more diverse options for citizens and residents to complete their transactions electronically via the National Portal and various electronic channels, including electronic platforms. He praised the Customs Affairs’ direction and its efforts, in cooperation with the Authority, to provide its services to its beneficiaries electronically, saving them time and effort.
Al-Jowder explained that the service of paying customs duties and taxes is now available through electronic payment and service platforms and Tamm commercial kiosks, including e-government platforms spread throughout the Kingdom, especially at shipping ports, and access to them is easier and more convenient than before. He pointed out the advantages of the service and the provision of various options such as payment in cash or by bank cards, which contributes to accelerating the pace of completing customs transactions, not to mention its achievement of the principle of social distancing and avoiding mixing to preserve everyone’s safety, which supports the efforts made by the national team to combat the Corona pandemic.
It’s worth noting that Payment International Enterprise is one of the largest fintech companies in Bahrain, licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain. The company has numerous partnerships in the Kingdom to innovate more services for government agencies and major telecom operators. The company’s achievements include e-government platforms deployed across the Kingdom since 2016, providing all government services and payments in convenient ways. Another notable achievement is the launch of the Tam Dinar project for government institutions in Bahrain to facilitate payments. Payment International Enterprise has direct integration with all major billers in Bahrain and provides self-service machines to third parties to empower businesses with fintech solutions and deliver a modern customer experience.