Panaji: There is a need to increase cooperation among Customs and Tax Authorities of different countries for smooth flow of goods across borders, said Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) chairman Najib Shah.
While inaugurating the 11th Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) of the Directors’ General-Commissioners of Customs at Dona Paula near Panaji in Goa on Thursday, Shah said efficient customs controls over international movement of goods lead to the promotion of certainty and predictability. To achieve this, the emphasis is shifting to automation, single window clearance, and risk management to facilitate the movement of legitimate goods and to focus resources on high-risk areas, he added.
India has policy to share information among Customs, Excise, Service tax and the Direct tax departments. Recognizing the primacy of Customs, the government has appointed inter-agency Customs Clearance Facilitation Committees at the local and national levels to set trade facilitation on a path of continuous improvement, Shah said.
Representatives from 44 countries and two International Organisations: European Union and ASEAN Secretariat are participating in the two- day event organised by the Central Board of Excise and Customs, Ministry of Finance.
