Interviewer : Good morning Alban Gruson. You are the Chief Executive Officer of CONEX, CONEX being a publisher of software for customs clearance declarations and customs tariff. So CONEX in a few words and a few numbers: tell us more.
AG : Well, very briefly, today CONEX represents half of all French customs declarations transiting via our transmission platform. We have been publishing specialized software for 25 years now and I would say that we hold the position of leader in this particular market, with as our main customers companies such as RENAULT, MICHELIN, EADS AIRBUS, AUCHAN, LA REDOUTE, and in the transport and logistics domain, emblems like GEODIS, SHENKER, DHL and others. And of course there is also a multitude of small- and medium sized companies among our client base. We are the No. 1 partner of the French Customs Administration in the framework of dematerialisation which, since 2007 has become an achieved objective. We could speak in more detail about this subject if you wish. Today our business has spread beyond French borders with a number of subsidiaries in Europe and activities in quite a few other European countries, not forgetting our current research into countries further a field such as China, India, Brazil and Morocco and others as well.
Interviewer : You mentioned a market in full transformation notably with the DELTA customs clearance procedure, so could you explain what the dematerialisation of customs administrative documents consists of exactly?
AG : Well, DELTA has brought about the change in direction once and for all with the suppression of the paper declaration and with the electronic message which replaces it. This message, of course, contains all the data that was included on the previous paper declaration. So, this phenomenon has meant declarants changing their work habits and even those of the customs administration employees. Therefore a period of adaptation, which took place throughout 2007 and even into 2008, was necessary. We have now reached a plateau phase in 2009 where routines have been established and the context integrated, but a certain number of rules still need to be defined because obviously laws are made to follow events. Today we are preoccupied by certain issues like rules of proof and to adapt the permanent declaration process to this paperless environment because, as you must know, legally speaking proof has been based mainly on paper documents until now. Despite all these changes, in the minds of many it still is!
Interviewer : What are the ambitions of CONEX in relation to the electronic declaration and for the future of dematerialisation in the world of customs?
AG : Well, concerning CONEX’s ambitions, in part they have already been realised because when you are the leader in your field what more can you achieve? Of course we wish to always do more, but I believe that the real challenge for CONEX is to link those whose data comes from distant countries, to build an information bridge which could facilitate the realisation of customs declarations both sides. Whether it is for importation or exportation, there are always two countries involved and therefore it is necessary to create a link between those two countries in the best possible way and that is our current challenge.
Interviewer : Alban Gruson, thank you for your time. I remind viewers that we’ve been speaking with the CEO of CONEX. I wish you well for your future projects and goodbye. |
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