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)