Skopje, 16 December 2025 (MIA) - The Customs Administration has been provided with risk management system and data warehouse expected to improve control over the overall trade volume and thwart crime and shadow economy.

The risk management system and data warehouse is implemented with a USD 4.75 million grant from the Republic of Korea. At Tuesday's event promoting the system, the Macedonian Customs also received two dogs from Korea to join the Customs Administration's K9 unit.

"All data on all imports, exports, transit, data on excise goods, the entire record of customs seizures, misdemeanour and criminal charges are integrated into the system to be analysed with the support of advanced AI. In addition, it provides data on goods whose values ​​​​are different from stock market prices, or below the average according to the analysis of the value of the entire import, which alerts customs officers to inspect containers with such goods, in order to prevent attempts at customs fraud. In terms of ​​​​crime prevention, the analysis of data on passengers in air traffic is also of essential importance, allowing us to more effectively target high-risk passenger profiles," Customs Administration head Boban Nikolovski told a joint press conference with the Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service (KCS) Lee Myeong-ku. 

The new system, Nikolovski pointed out, will also facilitate legal trade, enabling shorter customs clearance times and lower costs for companies. According to him, this is made possible through increased controls on goods where the system has identified a high level of risk of potential fraud, as well as analysis of post-clearance controls, which contributes to accelerating legal trade.

The project was launched with a feasibility study in 2021 and its completion today, according to the KCS Commissioner, is the result of the commitment and close partnership between the two governments.

"The ongoing communication and cooperation between our two countries has at last come to fruition. Since 2008, the Korea Customs Service has introduced the UNI-PASS e-customs clearance system in 16 countries, with the amount of USD 329.37 million. This USD 4.75 million project is particularly important for North Macedonia, as it represents the first KCS e-customs clearance system established in the entire European region," said Lee Myeong-ku. 

According to him, the new system will not only contribute to North Macedonia positioning itself as a Balkan leader with an advanced customs system, but will also represent an inspiring example of strong customs cooperation and friendship.

Photo: Customs Administration