Customs procedures among SAARC countries to be harmonized
Tuesday, 20 November 2007
Doulot Akter Mala
The SAARC group on customs cooperation, at a recent meeting, decided to harmonise customs procedures and documentation with a view to expediting the release of products at the ports of the member countries.
In a bid to gear up trade among the SAARC countries, the high-powered group held its fifth meeting at SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) secretariat in Nepal on November 15-16 last.
Bangladesh will host the next meeting of the SAARC group on customs cooperation in November 2008.
Member (customs) of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Rashid-Ul-Ahsan Chowdhury has been elected as chairperson of the group for the next one year.
"We have held the meetings with a view to enhancing regional cooperation in the field of customs that plays a vital role in facilitation of trade between SAARC member countries," Chowdhury said.
Customs administrations of the member states have nominated nine 'nodal points' or contact persons from the SAARC countries, who will provide necessary information as per requirement of member states under SAARC agreement on mutual administrative assistance in customs matters.
The meeting also decided to accommodate the customs officials of two countries in the border ports under one roof. The government will initially implement it as a pilot project at Benapole and Petrapole border land ports.
"This project will be implemented in all SAARC member states if it is proved successful," he said.
Underscoring the need for improvement of existing integrity standards in customs services, the meeting decided to implement similar standard customs procedure in the member states.
The group also decided to prepare lists of major import items for providing them standard "common digit" so that such products could be recognised internationally.
The SAARC group on customs cooperation, at a recent meeting, decided to harmonise customs procedures and documentation with a view to expediting the release of products at the ports of the member countries.
In a bid to gear up trade among the SAARC countries, the high-powered group held its fifth meeting at SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) secretariat in Nepal on November 15-16 last.
Bangladesh will host the next meeting of the SAARC group on customs cooperation in November 2008.
Member (customs) of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Rashid-Ul-Ahsan Chowdhury has been elected as chairperson of the group for the next one year.
"We have held the meetings with a view to enhancing regional cooperation in the field of customs that plays a vital role in facilitation of trade between SAARC member countries," Chowdhury said.
Customs administrations of the member states have nominated nine 'nodal points' or contact persons from the SAARC countries, who will provide necessary information as per requirement of member states under SAARC agreement on mutual administrative assistance in customs matters.
The meeting also decided to accommodate the customs officials of two countries in the border ports under one roof. The government will initially implement it as a pilot project at Benapole and Petrapole border land ports.
"This project will be implemented in all SAARC member states if it is proved successful," he said.
Underscoring the need for improvement of existing integrity standards in customs services, the meeting decided to implement similar standard customs procedure in the member states.
The group also decided to prepare lists of major import items for providing them standard "common digit" so that such products could be recognised internationally.