Electronic Government and Customs Clearance:

NOOR

The objective of project NOOR, that is an acronym for NAJM On Line Operations, is to enable traders and brokers to interact electronically by direct access from their own offices with Customs NAJM server. This operation is done by using a PC modem, and NOOR software that is installed on the Customer's PC by NAJM team members at NOOR Workshop in Port of Beirut.

NOOR Advantages:

The Advantages To Customs	The Advantages To Trading Communities
Initiate first E-Government Service in Lebanon.	Access to 7 out of 24 Data Entry Services
Transfer Responsibility of Data Entry to Client.	Less Overhead in Declaration Preparation.
Downsize Data Entry Departments(30 Persons / PC's).	Reduction of Declaration Processing time.
	Convenience of Working from Own Office.

NOOR Implementation Program :

NOOR program was started at Beirut International Airport in May 2001. The system was beta tested with a group of five Customs Brokers for two months. The deployment program was launched in July. Currently, there are 47 NOOR customers accounting for 45% of Customs Declarations at Beirut International Airport. In order to accelerate the process of NOOR implementation; a program was set-up at the Institute of Finance for training NOOR customers. This accelerated training program aims at covering more than 50% of transactions at Beirut International Airport and, Beirut Port.

NOOR Main Phases:

..1- Storage of Customs Declaration.

..2- Acceptance of Customs Declaration.

..3- Inspection of Customs Declaration.

..4- Payment of Customs Declaration.

In the initial phase , customs' clients will be able to enter, store, and follow-up the status of their Customs Declarations. At stage NOOR-I , the customer can store and track declarations.
At stages NOOR-II, and NOOR-III, customers will be able to register, assess and pay declarations. from their bank accounts.

NOOR Methodology of Work:

The setting-up of a NOOR connected customer involves two basic steps:

..1- Configuration with NOOR software, of the PC provided by the customer.

..2- Training of the NOOR customer. The "production" of NOOR PC stations is performed at NOOR Workshop in Port of Beirut. The training is performed at the Institute of Finance.