NEW DEHLI: Indian new Custom Chief Commissioner and Central Excise, R.Shakuntala said on the occasion of International Custom day, Indian custom has plan to introduce an easier , faster clearance procedure for traders to imports and exports.
Addressing traders and customs officials here on Tuesday on the occasion of International Customs Day, she said Hyderabad was emerging as the hub of exports and imports, and the customs department must keep the environment encouraging for trade to thrive. “There is need for single-window clearance to boost trading. Though it is difficult to have it because of different regulations of different agencies, I hope the state and central governments will support the idea.”
Further, she said, there is need for a coordinated approach by border control agencies to achieve greater efficiency in managing trade and travel flows while maintaining a balance with security requirements. “Though the current system is working effectively, we need to work with more dedication to face external threats such as organised crimes like smuggling and deadly diseases like Ebola,” she added. Commissioner of customs N Sridhar said there were five major allied agencies of the customs department in Telangana. The annual revenue from customs duties here is around Rs 200 crore with a major portion of it coming from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) at Shamshabad and the Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Sanatnagar. “These two agencies are growing as major trading hubs of India,” he said.
Celebrating the first-ever International Customs Day after its formation, the commissionerate felicitated top ten importers and exporters for prompt payment of customs duties.
The commissionerate of customs has brought out a travel guide for passengers and traders which was released by chief commissioner R Shakuntala at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday. The small book consists of instructions to passengers on baggage, customs duty and detailed procedure to follow at the airport while bringing goods from abroad. The book will be distributed free of cost to passengers at the airport.