Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
With Inputs from Media Release
Mangaluru, Jan 28: The officers and staff of the Customs Commissionerate, Mangaluru, celebrated the International Customs Day on Tuesday, January 28 along with other stakeholders viz., importers, exporters, special public prosecutor, airlines and officers from Central Excise & Central tax and Income Tax. This year’s theme is dedicated to the slogan ‘Customs fostering Sustainability for People, Prosperity and the Planet’.
Chief guest for the function was A V Ramana, chairman, NMPT, Mangaluru and advocate Rohini Salian, former chief public prosecutor (Government of Maharashtra) and former public prosecutor (Government of India) and Imamuddin Ahamad, commissioner of Central GST were guest of honour of the function. Baswaraj Nalegave, commissioner of Customs presided over the function.
Imamuddin Ahamad, Commissioner of Central Tax gave introductory speech. In his speech he spoke about customs role in protecting country’s economic border, environment and wildlife and stressed on importance of communication between various government agencies, digitization of processes and data analysis to stop the illicit trade of goods, illegal trafficking, money laundering and other menaces an spoke about various themes adopted by the Customs every year showing its eagerness towards sustainability for people, prosperity and the planet.
Rohini Salian in her address while sharing her experiences in working as public prosecutor has highlighted the need of better coordination between various government agencies to pass the important intelligence to stop the illegal activities and crimes in the country.
A V Ramana spoke while sharing his experiences working with customs in various port in the country spoke about the theme of fostering Sustainability for People, Prosperity and the Planet from perspective of the port and importance of co-ordination between Customs and Port for smooth clearance of cargo and trade facilitation while taking care of environment.
Baswaraj Nalegave, in his keynote address highlighted that in line with the theme of the World Customs Organization to dedicate ‘Customs fostering Sustainability for People, Prosperity and the Planet, the Commissionerate has prioritized in working with other agencies at the border, plays a pivotal role in contributing towards a sustainable future where social, economical, health and environmental needs are at the heart of actions. Facilitating trade and travel; simplifying, standardizing, maximizing the digitalization of processes to reduce the use of paper, harmonizing border procedures; and securing the borders. The Customs commits to promote the transformation of frontiers into ‘Eco-friendly Borders’ with customs acting as the central connecting and coordinating hub, it continued.
Speaking about the above goal set by the WCO, the Indian Customs have taken many measures towards ensuring the ‘fostering Sustainability for People, Prosperity and the Planet’, he informed that the department had introduced SCMTR (Sea Cargo Manifest regulations) for ensuring minimum use of paper. Under this Project, Government’s push towards digitization can be felt in our cargo-manifesting process. Digitization can bring us efficiency and transparency. And an efficient data harvesting would simplify the work of the government. The SCMT regulations are applicable for all cargo to be discharged, loaded or transshipped at any India port and also for cargo transiting via any India port (FROB - foreign cargo remaining on board). Wherein all the stakeholders are aligned with single system where all the documents/manifests must be uploaded from the discharge port only which will reduce the time taken for procedures drastically in various departments such as Port, Customs, Health etc. This is one of the key initiatives to facilitate online clearance at a single point that allows a trader to submit all supporting documents for clearance of consignments electronically with digital signatures.
The Indian Customs has also introduced the new Document Identification Number (DIN) Programme Generation and quoting of Document Identification Number (DIN) on any communication issued by the officers of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) to taxpayers and other concerned persons are mandatory. The DIN would be used for search authorization, summons, arrest memo, inspection notices and letters issued in the course of any enquiry. This measure would create a digital directory for maintaining a proper audit trail of such communication. Also no search authorization, summons, arrest memo, inspection notices and letters issued in the course of any enquiry shall be issued by any officer under the Board to a taxpayer or any other person, on or after the 8th day of November, 2019 without a computer-generated Document Identification Number (DIN) being duly quoted prominently in the body of such communication. Any specified communication which does not bear the electronically generated DIN and is not covered by the exceptions shall be treated as invalid and shall be deemed to have never been issued. Further, in line with commitment towards ease of doing business, the Indian Customs is introducing the Mobile X –ray Container Scanner in the New Mangalore Port which will reduce the time taken in examination of cargo and cost incurred by the importer. The officers of Customs have already been given training for said scanner and s per M/s Smiths Detection Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, who is installing the scanner has informed that the scanner has already been commissioned and official functioning will start once necessary regulatory permissions are obtained. He also spoke about faceless assessment where assessment will be done by an officer not known to the assesse sitting anywhere in country.
Speaking about the goal set by the WCO, the Indian Customs have taken many measures towards ensuring the ‘Ease of doing Business’, he informed that the department had introduced SWIFT (Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade) for ensuring ease of doing business. Under this Project, the importers electronically lodge their Customs clearance documents at a single point only with the Customs. E-SANCHIT facility is one of the key initiatives to facilitate online clearance at a single point that allows a trader to submit all supporting documents for clearance of consignments electronically with digital signatures. The Indian Customs has also introduced the new Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, wherein extensive benefits, including greater facilitation and self certification, have been provided to those entities who have demonstrated strong internal control system and compliance with CBIC. There are 41 AEO- entities are operating in this Commissionerate. He also added that Risk Management System (RMS) allows importer to file declarations/ documents as Facilitated Bill of Entry are cleared on the basis of self-assessment by the importer. Such consignments are not subjected to any intervention or examination. During the period, 75% of BOEs and 93% of SBs were facilitated under RMS. Further, he informed that Mangaluru Customs is going to adopt the Direct Port Delivery (DPD) & Direct Port Entry (DPE) Schemes which allow registered importers to complete Customs clearances at the terminal itself and take the container directly to the factory without proceeding to the Container Freight Station.
On passenger facilitation, over 98.19% passengers have opted for ‘Green Channel’ facility, who are not having any dutiable goods. In this regard, the online Customs guide for international passengers is made available, which has been found very useful by passengers and travel agencies. During the period upto Dec 2019, total passenger arrived were 242732 in 1471 flights and departed were 239828 in 1499 flights to various destinations in Gulf.
The facilitation and enforcement have to go side by side and accordingly, during this year, so far, 55 Anti-Smuggling Cases involving total value of Rs. 5.83 crore have been detected for various contraband commodities like Gold, Cigarettes, Foreign Currency, Cannabis & Narcotic Substances etc. of which 83.63% were gold seizures involving several modus operandi.
The distinction achieved by this Commissionerate is to get the extension of validity by 1 year for a comprehensive certificate from Bureau of Indian Standards covering all its formations. The Commissionerate has realized revenue of Rs. 2022.58 Crores up to 31st December 2019 as against the target of Rs. 2918.16 Crores for this financial year. The Commissionerate has been taking several proactive measures in respect of departmental lands across the coast and getting them fenced for proper protection and upkeep. In this regard, the building renovation & compound wall of Old Port Office at Bunder was completed in this financial year, he informed.
On this occasion, M/s M K AgrotechPvt. Ltd was awarded for substantial growth in revenue contribution; M/s Mangalore Refineries & Petrochemicals Ltd was awarded for the highest export performance, M/s MCF was awarded for being the top importer in terms of duty payment. Clifford D’Souza of M/s Export Trade Link Agencies was also awarded for his long service and attachment to the Customs formation. Also officers from various government agencies like Port, CISF, State Police was awarded on the occasion for their contribution towards progress of the Customs performance.
The Commendation Certificates were also distributed to the outstanding officers at various levels for their contribution to respective areas of the Commissionerate.
Assistant commissioner of customs Rajesh Poojary welcomed the gathering.