Kathmandu, January 26:

The Revenue Department is going to establish Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) at four customs points.

Speaking on 57th International Customs Day, Revenue Department director general Bodh Raj Niraula informed the gathering about the steps being taken for infrastructural advancement of the four major custom points. Niraula said, “Along with the agreement with Indian customs, we are going to establish the ICP concept at four custom points, among which the Birgunj customs point will be completed within a month and that will be of international standard.”

Talking about various strategies on which the organisation will be focused, Niraula said, “The organisation will focus on facilitating legitimate trade and industry, protect society and ensure compliance with

the law, collect correct revenues to be paid to the government, compile and maintain imports and exports statistics including an information database, modernize and enhance customs management, administration and infrastructure, promote culture of integrity within customs and identify measures to combat corruption, maximize the computerization of customs processes and provide improved and efficient passenger clearance system in airports and land customs offices.

Ministry of Finance (MoF) secretary Rameshwor Khanal said, “We are in need of business simplification, and this should be our main agenda. We are suffering from microchip deficiency syndrome which must be put to an end.” Khanal also urged to bring effectiveness at the customs offices to get Nepal Transit Economy and also called for pulling down different trade barriers during transportation.

Bansidhar Ghimire, former DG of Revenue Department, insisted on an integrated approach to avoid the negative effects of microchip deficiency syndrome existing in the customs offices.

According to data, Nepal became a member of the World Customs Office during 1986 and opted for the harmonised code of classification since then.

Yesterday, acting Revenue Secretary at the Finance Ministry Krishna Hari Baskota said that revenue collection was facing difficulties due to corrupt employees. At a discussion organised by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) and Nepal Overseas Trade Association, he said that though most of the civil servants were honest a few were not and because of such people the whole bureaucracy

was sometimes accused of being corrupt.

Niraula, who attended yesterday’s interaction, said on the occasion that his department was serious about good governance in the customs department and the private sector’s help was essential to control smuggling.

FNCCI chairman Kush Kumar Joshi said the government bid to widen the tax net was positive but the mentality to collect highest revenue through customs administration would never promote trade and industries.

He said Nepal’s customs administration was lagging far behind the customs

administrations of other countries in terms of trade facilitation.

The 57th International Customs Day was celebrated with the slogan ‘Customs and the Environment: protecting our natural heritage.’

NEP-AL IT:

KATHMANDU: Asta Laxmi Shakya, Minister for Industry inaugurated the NEP-AL IT (Nepal-Europe-Pakistan-Alliance on Information Technology) Match Making Programme. According to a press statement, the European Commission’s Asia Invest Programme is supporting the programme with Consortium School and Law as the main sponsor of the programme. Nepal Chambers of Commerce Karachi Chambers of Commerce and Industry and European chambers are co-sponsors. — HNS