Fact finding mission visits stakeholders, agencies
By RACHNA LAL
The Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority, in its efforts to improve its Automated Systems of Customs Data (ASYCUDA), has engaged the services of the Sri Lanka Customs.
Sri Lanka Customs director general, Jagath Premalal Wijeweera and deputy director general, Dalugama Acharie Don Thilaka were in the country this week here for a fact finding mission.
They visited the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority offices in Suva and the West and also met relevant agencies and stakeholders.
The fact finding mission is in line with the current reform programmes underway in Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority targeting the improvement of ASYCUDA.
This is to address dynamic and vibrant trading trends and patterns that Fiji Customs has been exposed to.
The advanced and sophisticated electronic trade and communication currently introduced and implemented within the trading community has somehow forced the authority to upgrade its systems.
Sri Lanka is one of the countries that uses and advanced model of the ASYCUDA system called ASYCUDA World whilst Fiji still uses ASYCUDA++.
The idea is also to build a good platform for the implementation of a Single Window Concept and ensuring the improvement of the delivery of services.
This mission was in order to address challenges as well as share experiences and the lessons learnt from the Sri Lankan developments.
Benefits of using AYSCUDA
Mr Thilaka said the latest version, ASYCUDA World, has more features which was why the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority had decided to go for it.
“So because we are using ASYCUDA World, we know the challenges and issues. So we can advise the Fijian Government on these,” he said.
Mr Thilaka said customs deals with international trade (import and export) which are directly connected to a country’s economy.
“So this has to be expedited. If you delay the export, it also causes delays in other countries,” he said.
“For example – the Fiji Ports has congestion issues which means you cannot take the goods out on time so that also means there is no space to unload the cargo.”
Mr Thilaka said simply put, the implementation of ASYCUDA World would expedite such processes.
“The purpose is to submit the documents electronically in the system so the payment can be done electronically and the goods can be taken out on time with everything in soft copy,” he said.
Impression of customs here
For someone from a big economy like Sri Lanka, Mr Thilaka described the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority here to be doing well.
“Any customs generally, there will be issues and weaknesses but overall – Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority is to the international level,” he said.
“But they need to be up to par with the latest development in terms of technology.”
Training assistance
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Government is also willing to help the Fijian Government in terms of providing training for the ASYCUDA World system.
“In discussions, it has come up that the Fijian Government will need some training assistance and the Sri Lanka Government is willing to help,” Mr Wijeweera said.
“We are arranging to train Fijians in Sri Lanka to gain experience for ASYCUDA World.
“And for anything the Fijian Government needs, the Sri Lanka Government is ready to assist until the end of the implementation of this system.”
Advantage for Fiji
Mr Wijeweera noted that Fiji in fact had a upper hand in terms of implementation of ASYCUDA World whereby we do not have as much trade taking place as is with the much bigger economies, Sri Lanka being one of them.
“The scenario is that the system in Fiji is not as complicated as is the case in Sri Lanka,” he said.
“For example there are not many shipping lines here while in Sri Lanka we have 600.”
Sri Lanka Customs director general, Jagath Premalal Wijeweera (left) with deputy director general, Dalugama Acharie Don Thilaka, in an interview with the Fiji Sun yesterday. They were in the country this week here for a fact finding mission. Photo: PAULINI RATULAILAI