NAYPYIDAW: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is supporting the Myanmar Customs Department in developing its Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) scheme, a new system that will simplify and expedite the release of imported and exported goods and help the country catch up with Asean counterparts.
At a three-day workshop this week, customs officials will begin developing the AEO scheme, which will allow traders with a good record of customs compliance and a solid commercial-records management system to receive a range of trade-facilitation benefits, including quicker customs processing, the ADB said in a statement.
“As Myanmar’s economy continues to expand and open to the world, it’s increasingly important for it to have strong customs measures in place to facilitate the free flow of goods,” said James Lynch, the bank’s director for regional cooperation and operations coordination in Southeast Asia.
“By taking this important step, Myanmar Customs is ensuring adherence to the Asean Economic Community Blueprint and the Asean Trade in Goods Agreement, and ensuring the country is in line with important World Customs Organisation’s international standards and the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement.”
This week’s workshop is just the first part of a comprehensive assistance programme to develop a voluntary accredited trader scheme that will provide a range of trade-facilitation benefits for compliant traders.
Through the workshop, customs officials will identify accreditation criteria and appropriate trade-facilitation measures for AEOs in Myanmar, identify the most appropriate customs-management structure for the AEO scheme, and develop a work plan to pave the way for a detailed AEO implementation plan.
These activities are being supported under the ADB’s regional technical assistance to strengthen trade facilitation in the Greater Mekong Subregion through partnerships with the private sector.
