e-Customs System
Ultimate Goal
The ASEAN Single Window (ASW) is a trade-facilitating environment operating on the basis of standardized information parameters, procedures, formalities, international best practices as relevant to the release and clearance of cargoes at entry points of ASEAN under any particular customs regime (imports, exports, and others). It pursues a more accelerated release of cargoes being shipped to, and from ASEAN in order to reduce transaction costs and time required for customs clearance in the region. The ASW should also be seen as part of the global supply chain and of the logistics industry working for the effective realization of the ASEAN Economic Community.
Development perspectives of the ASW consists of the harmonious collaboration and partnership between Customs Administrations and governmental agencies, and economic agents and operators (e.g. importers, exporters, transport operators, express industries, customs brokers, forwarders, commercial banking entities and financial institutions, insurers, and the like) within the framework of the international supply chain where international transactions take place. The ASW and its National Single Windows (NSWs) operate in the open environment (functionally and technically) that provide further opportunity to operational linkages to other clearance systems of other economies once conditions are ready.
Concept and Definition of the National Single Window
The National Single Window (NSW) is a system, which enables:
- a Single Submission of data and information
- a Single and Synchronous processing of data and information and
- a Single Decision-making for customs release and clearance of cargo.
A single decision-making shall be uniformly interpreted as a single point of decision for the release/clearance of cargoes by the Customs on the basis of decisions, if required, taken by line ministries and agencies and communicated in a timely manner to the Customs. In that sense, the NSW becomes the primary cell and source for the full operation of the ASW.
The NSW remains as a functional environment with modernizing features of the international supply chain: internationally aligned standards and information parameters, appropriate modernized methods of information administration and processing, and streamlined decision-making by a Customs Administration. It serves to secure a seamless clearance of regulatory requirements by all relevant entities for a free flow of goods and commodities crossing national borders.
At national level, there are six major areas of coordinated processing of information and data for faster clearance. They concern detailed transactions among Customs Administrations and governmental agencies, and economic agents and operators (e.g. importers, exporters, transport operators, express industries, customs brokers, forwarders, commercial banking entities and financial institutions, insurers, and the like), and the completion of procedures by management authorities in the respective arenas (trade management, duty and tax management, etc.). These areas of information processing within the NSW are:
Customs:
- Other Government Agencies (OGAs)
- Banking and Insurance Agency
- Transport Community
- Trading Community and
- ASEAN/ International Link
Aim of the proposed system
- To expedite and simplify information flow between government and trade and bring meaningful gain to all parties involved in international trade.
- To establish the viable, simplified, standardized and integrated environment for cargo clearance in line with international best practice.
- To reduce cargo clearance time and resources.
By using the e-Customs software, the following benefits will be awarded Government as well as the Customs Department.
- Improved trade compliance
- Enhanced security
- Increased integrity and transparency
- Cutting cost through reducing delays
- Faster clearance and release
In order to fulfill the objectives of the ASEAN agreement and to build the ASEAN Single Window for trade facilitation in 2012, Customs Department under the Ministry of Finance and Revenue made initiatives and efforts and signed the contract with MICTDC build the e-Customs system for Myanmar in 2008. The system was developed by the consortium members of the MICTDC for software development, network and software installation, system testing and user training.
e-Customs system was completed in 2010 and now this system has been using for the declaration of goods and collection of customs duty and commercial tax by Customs Department. Users of the system must have a login account to use the system and they need to apply the Customs Department in advance to use the online system.
Links: www.myanmarcustoms.gov.mm