ASEAN told to expedite customs harmonization<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): ASEAN Secretary-general Dato Ajit Singh
\nyesterday urged member states to work expeditiously to harmonize
\ncustoms procedures to keep up with the rising competition from
\nother regional trading blocks.<\/p>\n
\"ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) should not
\nlag behind others in its regional integration and trade
\nfacilitation processes, but take the measures necessary to remain
\nahead of the field,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the opening of the fourth meeting of ASEAN customs
\ndirector generals, Dato Ajit pointed to the Mercusor common
\nmarket of South American countries as an area which has
\nsuccessfully standardized customs codes and developed common
\ntariff nomenclature and rules for customs valuations.<\/p>\n
\"ASEAN faces increasing competition from other countries,
\nparticularly from emerging developing economies in other regional
\ntrading blocks,\" he said at the start of the two-day meeting.<\/p>\n
Formed in 1967, ASEAN comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia,
\nthe Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Dato Ajit pointed to the growing need to simplify
\nbureaucracies to allow the region to remain competitive in
\nbusiness.<\/p>\n
Environment<\/p>\n
\"We need an environment in ASEAN which will enable the private
\nsector to transform our region into an important hub serving
\ninternational and regional markets,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
He then suggested that ASEAN director generals consider
\ninitiating a reform and modernization process to take into
\naccount both the need for customs control and trade facilitation.<\/p>\n
By strengthening management capabilities and improving both
\ncustoms service performances and the use of computers, Dato Ajit
\nbelieves business overheads can be reduced and more effective and
\nefficient customs administrations developed.<\/p>\n
Similarly, Indonesian Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad, in
\nhis written address at the meeting's opening, also stressed the
\nneed for customs improvements.<\/p>\n
\"As the ASEAN economies prepare to meet the challenges of the
\nnext century, it is important that we initiate improvements in
\nour customs administration to ensure that we reap the full
\nbenefits from increased international and intra-regional trade,\"
\nthe minister said in his speech which was read by Ministry of
\nFinance Secretary-general Dono Iskandar Djojosubroto. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-told-to-expedite-customs-harmonization-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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