Government to provide customs clearance in 3 days, Singapore does in Minutes
Updated: Jul 25, 2017 05:32:01am
Government to provide customs clearance in 3 days, Singapore does in Minutes
New Delhi, July 25 (KNN) The Government of India is having an ‘ambitious’ plan of clearing all import – export cargoes in days.
This was announced at a seminar on Trade Facilitation organised in New Delhi recently.
The seminar dwelled on the commitments of the Indian Government under the Trade Facilitation Agreement of WTO under which the member countries are to facilitate import and export of Goods.
At the seminar, an expert from Singapore mentioned that in Singapore international trade consignments are released online in minutes.
He said that this is done despite Singapore has almost 8 lakh rules and regulations regarding import and export of goods.
He also mentioned that the reason behind Singapore’s prompt decision process are - state of the art, single window system and close coordination among all authorities related to international trade.
So no surprise that total trade of Singapore is nearly three times that of India.
At the meeting, experts from World Bank mentioned that a survey with India’s trade partners has brought out that delay in clearances related to quality testing and other measures are mainly responsible for delay at the Indian ports.
Representatives from the trade mentioned about the recent improvements in the custom clearance time but there is need for further facilitation.
Inaugurating the seminar, Vanaja Sarna, Chairperson, Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) mentioned the measures taken by the Government to facilitate international traders, particularly through online single window.
Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General, World Customs Organization (WCO) also mentioned about the initiatives by his organisation to faciliatate international trade. (KNN/ DB)