India Assumes Vice Chair of
Asia Pacific Region for WCO
MOS (Finance): Customs administrations need to become
more efficient by reducing the transaction costs associated with Customs formalities,
so that trade flows are not unnecessarily restricted
The Minister of State for Finances, Mr. Shukla asked the Customs officials
to balance the twin objectives of facilitating the trade and managing the increased
risks associated with cross border trade. He also asked them to ensure that the
entire supply chain is secure and safe. The Minister said that Customs administrations
need to become more efficient by reducing the transaction costs associated with
Customs formalities, so that trade flows are not unnecessarily restricted. Mr. Shukla
said that the Customs administrations also need to become more effective by developing
robust risk management and targeting systems so as to ensure that our societies
are protected against the ever-increasing threats of illegal trade, trafficking
and money laundering. The Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Shukla was addressing
the distinguished gathering at a function organised here
today in New Delhi to mark the assumption of Vice Chair Office by India of the Asia
Pacific Region for World Customs Organisation (WCO). The
event to mark Assumption of Vice-Chair Office by India was organised
by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) in partnership with CII
which was attended among others by the Customs Delegates of more than 30 countries
of Asia Pacific Region along with representatives from other Government Agencies
and the Trade.
Speaking further on the occasion, the Minister of State for Finance, Mr.
Shukla said that while Governments in the past decade have been able to find the
political will to commit to a structured approach to facilitation of trade, which
culminated in the signing of the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement. However, he
added that a lot still remains to be done for the actual implementation of the Agreement
to ensure that the global economy truly reaps the benefits of trade facilitation.
He appreciated the positive role played by CBIC in smooth implementation of GST
in the country and simplifying the same within one year and also highlighted the
innate experience of India in handling the diversities be it cultural, linguistic,
economic to its advantage. Mr. Shukla said that the same experience will be handy
to the tax administration in coping with the varying regional diversities and aspirations
of Asia Pacific people on this global stage. He assured his full support to CBIC
for the role of Vice Chair. He also admired the brave Custom Officers who laid their
lives while performing their duties with full commitment, sincerity and dedication.
India has assumed the Vice Chair of the Asia Pacific Region for the World
Customs Organisation (WCO) and will be heading the Region
for a period of 2 years from 2018 to2020. The flag of Vice Chair was handed-over
to India from the outgoing Vice Chair, Fiji in the Council Session at WCO, Brussels,
held from 28thto 30thJune, 2018.
The Minister of State for Finance, Sh. Shiv Pratap
Shukla was the Chief Guest for the occasion. WCO Secretary General, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya attended the Assumption
Ceremony and delivered the Keynote Address. The Customs Heads of Japan, Mr. Atsushi
lizuka, and Fiji Mr. Visvanath
Das, were present among the dignitaries.
Earlier in his Opening Address, S. Ramesh, Chairman, CBIC, expressed his
gratitude to WCO and Member Countries and stated that India has been associated
with WCO since 1971 and has been contributing for the integral development, and
promoting people to people contact among the Member Countries in the Asia Pacific
Region. He also mentioned that in the present times, the rapid growth of international
trade has amplified the relative importance of border procedures in cutting down
transaction costs. Trade Facilitation is seen as the key enabler for simplification
and rationalization of procedures and reduction of barriers for the movement of
goods across the border. India is committed to the path of trade facilitation and
has undertaken several reforms in the last few years to reduce the time and cost
at the border for clearance and release of goods. He highlighted that for the next
two years, India shall have four strategic guiding principles, i.e., greater communication
and connectivity within the Region, Harness Technology Advancements, give voice
to the aspirations and priorities of the membership and evolve consensus on core
issues.
In his Key Note Address, the Secretary General WCO, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya thanked outgoing Vice
Chair of Asia Pacific Region, Fiji and appreciated the good coordination among the
AP Member administrations and expressed his confidence in the successful takeover
of this role by the CBIC.
Secretary General, WCO, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya welcomed India as a new Vice Chair and expressed confidence
in India’s capabilities of steering Asia Pacific region. He also talked about India’s
long association with WCO and applauded India’s effort in global participation in
terms of National Trade Facilitation Action Plan. He thanked India for the support
for his re-election as Secretary General of WCO and assured his full support to
A/P Region. He also appreciated India’s efforts in Risk management, Data Base Valuation
and use of the India ‘expertise for many African counties. He emphasized the use
of technology and requested Member Countries to use the modules and tools developed
by WCO.
Sh. Pranab Kumar Das, Member (Customs), CBIC spoke
about India’s initiatives w.r.t. steps taken by Indian Customs for facilitating
trade and “Ease of Doing Business”. He highlighted
that “in our National Trade Facilitation Action Plan, we have a concrete vision
in place now for transforming the trade ecosystem towards more expeditious and efficient
cargo clearances. This is not just the requirement of TFA but is also required as
a step in the direction of Ease of Doing Business, which will hugely facilitate
trade under which importers and exporters will be able to lodge documents at a single
point, reducing interface with Governmental agencies, dwell time and the cost of
doing business. Combination of AEO, DPD and Advance filing of import declarations
have significantly reduced the overall cargo release time in imports”.
Delegates from Fiji, Japan and Korea congratulated India for assuming Vice
Chair and appreciated India’s role and contribution at this global platform.
There were also, addresses by Australia, Singapore, GATF and Private Sector
on various facets of Trade Facilitation highlighting the theme of – “Customs Facilitating
Cross Border Clearances”.
In concluding remarks, the Joint Secretary (Customs), CBIC, Department of
Revenue, Government of India, Sh. Satya Srinivas, , expressed thanks to the Minister
of State for Finance, for his support and time and also extended gratitude to WCO
and all foreign delegation for supporting India to become Vice Chair of the Asia
Pacific Region for the World Customs Organisation (WCO).
This event marking the opening of Vice Chair office is being followed by
an high level seminar on E-commerce Framework
of Standards(adopted by WCO recently) for the delegates from member countries of
the region.