RI, Malaysia forge ties on paperless customs services<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Malaysia are forging closer
\ncustoms cooperation through paperless customs services in
\nanticipation of the advent of free trade in the Southeast Asian
\nregion.<\/p>\n
The two countries' directors general of customs and excise,
\nSoehardjo Soebardi of Indonesia and Dato Mohammad Nor bin Abdul
\nHamid of Malaysia, signed an agreement yesterday on the
\ndevelopment of the electronic data interchange (EDI) system.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad and his
\nMalaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim witnessed the signing of the
\ncustoms agreement.<\/p>\n
Soehardjo said the agreement was aimed at preparing both
\ncountries for the commencement of free trade within the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by 2003.<\/p>\n
He said that such free trade would need harmonized customs
\nprocedures among member countries.<\/p>\n
ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
\nSingapore, Thailand and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Under the customs agreement, Malaysia, which has installed the
\nEDI system in its Kelang Valley customs area, will transfer its
\nknowledge and experience towards the development of the paperless
\ncustoms service system in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Soehardjo said the EDI system would electronically connect
\ncustoms offices to all related parties involved in customs
\nmatters.<\/p>\n
Those parties include importers, exporters, port and airport
\nauthorities, shipping companies, airlines, freight forwarders,
\nbanks and related government departments.<\/p>\n
Better service<\/p>\n
Soehardjo said the system would enable his office to provide
\nbetter and faster customs services in pace with the growing
\nvolume of Indonesia's international trade.<\/p>\n
The system is expected to reduce personal contact between
\ncustoms officials and entrepreneurs and, consequently, lessen red
\ntape and minimize the possibility of collusion between officials
\nand traders.<\/p>\n
The customs office said earlier that it would soon conduct a
\nsimulation of the system's operations together with port and
\nairport managements, freight forwarders, shipping companies and
\nbanks.<\/p>\n
In the first stage, the planned EDI system will be installed
\nat a number of large ports in the country, including Tanjung
\nPerak in Surabaya, East Java; Tanjung Mas in Semarang, Central
\nJava; and Belawan in Medan, North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
The planned EDI system in Indonesia will also be connected
\nwith the international EDI network, known as EDI for
\nAdministration, Commerce and Transportation.<\/p>\n
In addition to the customs agreement, Indonesia also signed an
\nagreement yesterday on the avoidance of double taxation with the
\nUnited Arab Emirates (UAE).<\/p>\n
The agreement, aimed at boosting trade and investment between
\nthe two countries, was signed by Minister Mar'ie and UAE Finance
\nand Industry Minister Ahmad Humaid Al-Tayer.<\/p>\n
The tax agreement covers a wide range of tax objects,
\nincluding income; land and buildings; shipping and aviation;
\ndividends; royalties. (rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-malaysia-forge-ties-on-paperless-customs-services-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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