ASEAN vows to speed up reforms in customs sector<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Senior customs officials of the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ended a two-day meeting here
\nyesterday pledging to accelerate reforms in customs
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
The directors general of customs of the nine ASEAN member
\ncountries said in a joint statement that the acceleration of
\ncustoms reforms was essential to limit impacts of the economic
\nturmoil which has battered the region since last July.<\/p>\n
\"Customs plays an important role in determining the
\ncompetitiveness of both local and multinational companies while
\nfacing the trade liberalization era,\" they said.<\/p>\n
\"Steps should be taken both nationally and regionally to
\nensure that confidence is maintained in the private sectors.\"<\/p>\n
The customs officials also called for the need to maintain a
\nlow cost and conducive business and investment climate in the
\nregion to lure more foreign investors.<\/p>\n
\"This should be achieved by enhancing the ability of customs
\nto reach the dual objectives of trade facilitation through
\neffective customs control and efficient revenue collection,\" the
\nofficials said.<\/p>\n
ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
\nPhilippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Intra-ASEAN trade should be promoted and the implementation of
\nthe ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) should be accelerated, the
\ndirectors general said.<\/p>\n
They also agreed in the meeting to take steps to facilitate
\nintra-ASEAN trade and to further deepen economic integration in
\nthe region through the expansion of a \"green lane system\"
\ncovering all ASEAN products which satisfy ASEAN-origin criteria.<\/p>\n
Under the system, clearance time is to be reduced through a
\ndecrease and simplification of customs procedures required for
\nproducts, they said.<\/p>\n
The directors general also stressed a need to establish
\nregion-wide customs facilities, such as regional transshipment
\nprocedures, duty drawbacks, free zones and periodic declarations
\nfor ASEAN companies to speed up business activities.<\/p>\n
\"Such facilities would accelerate on-going harmonization
\nactivities, especially tariff nomenclature, customs valuation and
\nprocedures,\" they said.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Director General of Customs and Excise Soehardjo
\nsaid earlier that all ASEAN member countries were expected to
\nharmonize tariffs by 2000 as part of ASEAN's Customs Vision 2020.<\/p>\n
The vision sets targets in classification, cargo processing,
\nvaluation, automation, transit and temporary admission and mutual
\nassistance, the officials said. (aly)<\/p>",
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