ASEAN vows to speed up reforms in customs sector

JAKARTA (JP): Senior customs officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ended a two-day meeting here yesterday pledging to accelerate reforms in customs administration.

The directors general of customs of the nine ASEAN member countries said in a joint statement that the acceleration of customs reforms was essential to limit impacts of the economic turmoil which has battered the region since last July.

"Customs plays an important role in determining the competitiveness of both local and multinational companies while facing the trade liberalization era," they said.

"Steps should be taken both nationally and regionally to ensure that confidence is maintained in the private sectors."

The customs officials also called for the need to maintain a low cost and conducive business and investment climate in the region to lure more foreign investors.

"This should be achieved by enhancing the ability of customs to reach the dual objectives of trade facilitation through effective customs control and efficient revenue collection," the officials said.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Intra-ASEAN trade should be promoted and the implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) should be accelerated, the directors general said.

They also agreed in the meeting to take steps to facilitate intra-ASEAN trade and to further deepen economic integration in the region through the expansion of a "green lane system" covering all ASEAN products which satisfy ASEAN-origin criteria.

Under the system, clearance time is to be reduced through a decrease and simplification of customs procedures required for products, they said.

The directors general also stressed a need to establish region-wide customs facilities, such as regional transshipment procedures, duty drawbacks, free zones and periodic declarations for ASEAN companies to speed up business activities.

"Such facilities would accelerate on-going harmonization activities, especially tariff nomenclature, customs valuation and procedures," they said.

Indonesian Director General of Customs and Excise Soehardjo said earlier that all ASEAN member countries were expected to harmonize tariffs by 2000 as part of ASEAN's Customs Vision 2020.

The vision sets targets in classification, cargo processing, valuation, automation, transit and temporary admission and mutual assistance, the officials said. (aly)