RI, Malaysia forge ties on paperless customs services
RI, Malaysia forge ties on paperless customs services
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Malaysia are forging closer
customs cooperation through paperless customs services in
anticipation of the advent of free trade in the Southeast Asian
region.
The two countries' directors general of customs and excise,
Soehardjo Soebardi of Indonesia and Dato Mohammad Nor bin Abdul
Hamid of Malaysia, signed an agreement yesterday on the
development of the electronic data interchange (EDI) system.
Indonesian Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad and his
Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim witnessed the signing of the
customs agreement.
Soehardjo said the agreement was aimed at preparing both
countries for the commencement of free trade within the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by 2003.
He said that such free trade would need harmonized customs
procedures among member countries.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Under the customs agreement, Malaysia, which has installed the
EDI system in its Kelang Valley customs area, will transfer its
knowledge and experience towards the development of the paperless
customs service system in Indonesia.
Soehardjo said the EDI system would electronically connect
customs offices to all related parties involved in customs
matters.
Those parties include importers, exporters, port and airport
authorities, shipping companies, airlines, freight forwarders,
banks and related government departments.
Better service
Soehardjo said the system would enable his office to provide
better and faster customs services in pace with the growing
volume of Indonesia's international trade.
The system is expected to reduce personal contact between
customs officials and entrepreneurs and, consequently, lessen red
tape and minimize the possibility of collusion between officials
and traders.
The customs office said earlier that it would soon conduct a
simulation of the system's operations together with port and
airport managements, freight forwarders, shipping companies and
banks.
In the first stage, the planned EDI system will be installed
at a number of large ports in the country, including Tanjung
Perak in Surabaya, East Java; Tanjung Mas in Semarang, Central
Java; and Belawan in Medan, North Sumatra.
The planned EDI system in Indonesia will also be connected
with the international EDI network, known as EDI for
Administration, Commerce and Transportation.
In addition to the customs agreement, Indonesia also signed an
agreement yesterday on the avoidance of double taxation with the
United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The agreement, aimed at boosting trade and investment between
the two countries, was signed by Minister Mar'ie and UAE Finance
and Industry Minister Ahmad Humaid Al-Tayer.
The tax agreement covers a wide range of tax objects,
including income; land and buildings; shipping and aviation;
dividends; royalties. (rid)