To significantly simplify the import and export of goods, Belgium has officially introduced its BE-GATE Customs portal, which is a free platform designed for processing large amounts of data, and is expected to improve Customs clearance in the cross-border flow of goods, particularly e-commerce, across the four main hubs of Antwerp, Brussels, Liege and Zeebrugge, said a release.
BE-GATE can be used for free circulation, Customs warehousing and export by an official Customs agent with a registered office in Belgium and an approved Customs warehouse. In March this year, DHL became the first company to be BE-GATE certified.
Mr Werner Rens, Head of the Marketing Department, Belgium Customs and Excise, elaborated on the rationale behind BE-GATE: “As partners we invest in platforms and procedures to optimise this network. That way we can meet the e-commerce players’ expectations about integrated gateways. Moreover, our sea and airports are centrally located in Europe. This optimal location and connectivity make Belgium a unique hotspot for omni-channel logistics.”
