Latest news with #AuthorisedEconomicOperator
Hans India
09-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Rise in Vizag AEO-certified entities
Visakhapatnam: With rising Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) adoption, India is steadily positioning itself as a trusted player in global trade, observed Chief Commissioner of Customs and Central Tax, Visakhapatnam Zone Sanjay a seminar on authorised economic operators held in Visakhapatnam on Thursday, he highlighted the growing importance of the AEO in strengthening India's trade ecosystem. Organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in collaboration with the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), the seminar witnessed participation of over 100 stakeholders from the import-export and logistics industry. 'The number of AEO-certified entities in Visakhapatnam zone has increased to 118, up from 46 earlier, reflecting growing industry awareness and trust in the scheme,' Sanjay Rathi stressed. Underscoring India's broader logistics progress, he pointed out that India has climbed to 38th position in the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index (LPI) 2023, a significant jump from the 54th rank in 2014. Principal Commissioner, Directorate of International Customs, Delhi, Akil Kumar Khatri highlighted that the AEO programme, launched 14 years ago, is a voluntary initiative by customs to identify and support trusted businesses involved in international trade. It helps reduce delays, speeds up clearances, and offers global recognition through mutual agreements with other countries, making trade safer, faster, and more efficient for compliant importers, exporters, and logistics providers. Immediate past chairman, CII Rajesh Grandhi underlined the need for continuous policy improvement and shared key industry suggestions, including extending the deferred duty payment window to 30 days. Past chairman of CII G Sambasiva Rao highlighted the growing role of Andhra Pradesh in global trade. He noted that the state has contributed nearly USD 20 billion in merchandise exports in FY 2024–25, led by key sectors such as marine products, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, engineering goods, and minerals. N Sridhar, Principal Commissioner, Custom House, Visakhapatnam, Pradeep Kumar, Joint Commissioner, Directorate of International Customs, Delhi, G Krishna Mohan, vice chairman, CII and other senior customs officials spoke.
Qatar Tribune
08-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
MoCI workshop helps SMEs with customs compliance
Tribune News Network Doha The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) in collaboration with the General Authority of Customs, held a workshop entitled 'Capacity Building for Entrepreneurs on Customs Procedures and Compliance Management' from May 6 to 8, 2025 at the Ministry's headquarters inLusail City. The workshop aimed to empower entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Qatar and enhance their capabilities in the areas of customs procedures and international compliance standards. It also sought to raise awareness of the facilitation and compliance programmes implemented by the General Authority of Customs, while equipping participants with the knowledge and skills required to manage customs clearance processes efficiently, in line with applicable legislations and regulations. The workshop focused on three key areas: introducing the concept of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), along with associated facilitation, compliance measures, and international standards; reviewing the customs clearance procedures adopted by the Authority; and outlining how to access accurate information via the Authority's digital platforms. The features of the 'Al-Nadeeb' electronic customs clearance system were also discussed, highlighting its comprehensive coverage of all customs procedures. This initiative is part of ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the General Authority of Customs to raise awareness of customs procedures and simplify them, thereby fostering a business-friendly environment, attracting investment, and strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of the national economy.
Zawya
11-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt reviews customs system reforms to boost trade, curb smuggling
The Egyptian government is reviewing its plan to reform the customs system and curb smuggling in a bid to enhance trade competitiveness and improve the business environment. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly convened a meeting with key officials to assess the progress and future steps of the initiative. 'The government is focused on the development of the customs system as a step to promote the competitiveness of national exports and improve the business environment,' said Madbouly during the meeting. Those in attendance included Kamel El-Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development, Minister of Industry and Transport; Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Finance; Sherif El-Kilany, Deputy Minister of Finance for Tax Policies and Supervisor of the Customs Authority; Essam El-Naggar, Head of the General Authority for Export and Import Control; Essam Omar, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt; Amani El-Wassal, Head of the Agreements and Foreign Trade Sector at the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, and Executive Director of the Export Development Fund; Ahmed El-Asqalani, Head of the Central Administration of Air Export and Import Customs at the Customs Authority, alongside officials from relevant ministries and agencies. During the meeting, Ahmed Kouchouk, the Minister of Finance, outlined the key measures included in the reform plan. These measures encompass various aspects, including identifying the implementing entities, establishing time frames for each procedure, and determining which procedures require legislative amendments. Kouchouk explained that the reform plan includes both facilitation and regulatory elements. Facilitation measures and incentives comprise instalment payments for customs duties on production inputs, streamlining the pre-clearance system, granting customs clearance at the client's premises for companies listed on the White List and participating in the Authorised Economic Operator programme. Further aims include reducing customs release times, creating a user guide for customs dealings, allowing electronic payments, and enabling companies to establish logistics service centres to boost transit trade. The Finance Minister added that regulatory measures include governing mechanisms for securing and tracking the movement of goods and shipments. Also included is the review of tariff categories, particularly for targeted goods and industrial sectors, the training and redeployment of Customs Authority staff within customs ports, updating the Customs Authority website, expanding licensing for general customs warehouses inside dry ports, and reviewing the conditions for joining the Authorised Economic Operator programme, with the aim of increasing the number of participating companies to 500. Kouchouk also presented indicators on smuggling rates detected in 2024, the categories and classifications of seized goods, and proposed controls to reduce smuggling at various ports. He addressed a package of proposed measures for the electronic development of the customs system to close smuggling loopholes. El-Naggar presented an update on the implementation of the first phase of easing procedures, designed to improve customs release times and boost Egyptian trade indicators. El-Naggar outlined the mechanisms used to implement these measures and the results achieved. He noted that the continuous operation of customs clearance entities throughout the week on a shift basis has helped accomplish more tasks and double the number of inspected shipments. The General Authority for Export and Import Control has issued executive instructions to facilitate registration on the White List, which provides companies with advantages and facilities. In addition, the Authority launched its electronic portal in January 2024 in three languages, providing round-the-clock digital services, simplifying and accelerating the registration of exporters and importers, and providing up-to-date information to stakeholders as part of a digital transformation plan that includes issuing importer and exporter cards through the Egypt Digital platform. Amani El-Wassal presented the measures proposed by the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade to reduce smuggling, as well as the entity responsible for implementing each measure. These measures aim to tighten procedures at customs ports to control smuggling attempts and monitor the handling of released shipments.
Daily News Egypt
10-03-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt reviews customs system reforms to boost trade, curb smuggling
The Egyptian government is reviewing its plan to reform the customs system and curb smuggling in a bid to enhance trade competitiveness and improve the business environment. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly convened a meeting with key officials to assess the progress and future steps of the initiative. 'The government is focused on the development of the customs system as a step to promote the competitiveness of national exports and improve the business environment,' said Madbouly during the meeting. Those in attendance included Kamel El-Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development, Minister of Industry and Transport; Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Finance; Sherif El-Kilany, Deputy Minister of Finance for Tax Policies and Supervisor of the Customs Authority; Essam El-Naggar, Head of the General Authority for Export and Import Control; Essam Omar, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt; Amani El-Wassal, Head of the Agreements and Foreign Trade Sector at the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, and Executive Director of the Export Development Fund; Ahmed El-Asqalani, Head of the Central Administration of Air Export and Import Customs at the Customs Authority, alongside officials from relevant ministries and agencies. During the meeting, Ahmed Kouchouk, the Minister of Finance, outlined the key measures included in the reform plan. These measures encompass various aspects, including identifying the implementing entities, establishing time frames for each procedure, and determining which procedures require legislative amendments. Kouchouk explained that the reform plan includes both facilitation and regulatory elements. Facilitation measures and incentives comprise instalment payments for customs duties on production inputs, streamlining the pre-clearance system, granting customs clearance at the client's premises for companies listed on the White List and participating in the Authorised Economic Operator programme. Further aims include reducing customs release times, creating a user guide for customs dealings, allowing electronic payments, and enabling companies to establish logistics service centres to boost transit trade. The Finance Minister added that regulatory measures include governing mechanisms for securing and tracking the movement of goods and shipments. Also included is the review of tariff categories, particularly for targeted goods and industrial sectors, the training and redeployment of Customs Authority staff within customs ports, updating the Customs Authority website, expanding licensing for general customs warehouses inside dry ports, and reviewing the conditions for joining the Authorised Economic Operator programme, with the aim of increasing the number of participating companies to 500. Kouchouk also presented indicators on smuggling rates detected in 2024, the categories and classifications of seized goods, and proposed controls to reduce smuggling at various ports. He addressed a package of proposed measures for the electronic development of the customs system to close smuggling loopholes. El-Naggar presented an update on the implementation of the first phase of easing procedures, designed to improve customs release times and boost Egyptian trade indicators. El-Naggar outlined the mechanisms used to implement these measures and the results achieved. He noted that the continuous operation of customs clearance entities throughout the week on a shift basis has helped accomplish more tasks and double the number of inspected shipments. The General Authority for Export and Import Control has issued executive instructions to facilitate registration on the White List, which provides companies with advantages and facilities. In addition, the Authority launched its electronic portal in January 2024 in three languages, providing round-the-clock digital services, simplifying and accelerating the registration of exporters and importers, and providing up-to-date information to stakeholders as part of a digital transformation plan that includes issuing importer and exporter cards through the Egypt Digital platform. Amani El-Wassal presented the measures proposed by the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade to reduce smuggling, as well as the entity responsible for implementing each measure. These measures aim to tighten procedures at customs ports to control smuggling attempts and monitor the handling of released shipments.
