APEC to set up programs for customs cooperation
APEC to set up programs for customs cooperation
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad yesterday
suggested that the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum
formulate programs and action plans for strengthening customs and
excise cooperation in the region.
Mar'ie told the second APEC customs and trade symposium at the
Jakarta Convention Center yesterday that the full-fledging APEC
forum is a momentous time to start cooperation in customs and
excise activities because all its members are now in the same
spirit of economic liberalization under the direction of the
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
He said that such cooperation can include the standardization
of customs administration and procedures.
"Customs administrations among member countries in fact play a
strategic role in implementing the provisions of the Uruguay
Round (of GATT negotiations) toward the achievement of APEC's
goal," Mar'ie told around 500 participants of the symposium.
The symposium, jointly organized by the Brussels-based World
Customs Organization and the Directorate General of Customs and
Excise, is a continuation of the first symposium held in Seattle
in November last year.
Challenges
Mar'ie said that the implementation of the Uruguay Round will
create greater challenges to customs administrations in the
region in improving their organization, internal systems and
procedures.
"Further, the Uruguay Round will require new laws and
regulations to enable the region's customs administrations to
respond to the new challenges and to provide better services," he
said.
He, therefore, said that a commitment of every government for
realignment of customs administrations within the region is also
important to support the cooperation.
"In a related development, Indonesia is now preparing a new
bill on customs and excise, which will amend the existing law,"
he said, adding that the Indonesian law on the customs and excise
is still based on the Dutch colonial system.
He assured reporters yesterday that the bill will be delivered
to the House of Representatives (DPR) for deliberations in the
current fiscal year.
"I hope early next year, the bill will be delivered to DPR,"
he added.
Mar'ie said that the government has also planned to upgrade
all its officials and staff in the field in efforts to improve
the customs and excise services in the country.
Mar'ie expressed hopes of the symposium bringing about action
for improvement of human resources, transfer of modern
technology, technical assistance and exchange of experts in the
region.
He added that cooperation among customs administrations,
private business sectors and government organizations in the
region can be a key to the success of the establishment of the
standardization in customs in the region.
James W. Shaver, Secretary General of the World Customs
Organization, told The Jakarta Post that the APEC meetings now
underway in Indonesia are expected to help promote cooperation in
customs and excise administration in the region. (fhp)