Finance
Minister Shankar Prasad Koirala today asked the customs officials to improve
their attitude as the customs department has become a synonym for corruption.
Addressing
the 62nd International Customs Day, here in the valley, he said that
the department must embrace new technology, and boost infrastructure. "The
customs should be paperless," he said, asking the officials to facilitate
the trade instead of taking the customs as only the revenue mobilisation
centre. "The customs point of any country is the indicator of a country's
economic health and physical development."
Nepal has
committed in the international forums like World Trade Organisation (WTO),
SAFTA to facilitate trade. And trained human resources is key to facilitate the
trade, Koirala added. "Use of information technology will promote
transparency, and boost confidence and trust. However, strong will power is
important to bring in a change."
Likewise,
finance secretary Shanta Raj Subedi, on the occasion, said that there is some
40 per cent of illegal trade and customs leakages, but no one is ready to take
responsibility. "It’s a shame to read about Nepal as a transit point for
smuggling of gold, red sandalwood, drugs and fake currency," he said,
urging for a reform in the customs..
Asking the
revenue administration not to take extra benefit – as they have been paid cent
per cent incentives from the government – Subedi said that it’s a serious issue
of honesty.
Suggesting
to form a Revenue Board and customs barrack, secretary at the Office of Prime
Minister Krishna Hari Baskota said the reform is necessary for the revenue
administration.
Likewise,
chief of Revenue Division of Finance Ministry Rajan Kjanal said that the
customs is not only a checking point but also border management. "Its
reform is a must."
However,
director general of the Customs Department Surya Prasad Acharya claimed that they
are focusing on trade facilitation, checking of illegal trade, infrastructure
development and auto-customs. "
The International Customs
Day is celebrated in some 179 countries that are the members of World Customs
Organisation. Nepal took membership of the organisation in 1985.
No comments:
Post a Comment