By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, MAY 19, 2020: IN his communication to CBIC field formations, the Chairman, Mr Ajit Kumar, has noted that economic activity will pick up quickly in the days to come. There has been a significant rise in the number of e-Way bills being issued each passing day, which is an indication of this revival. What has been reassuring is that your conduct of taxpayer services during the lockdown has been of a high order and which has received appreciation from the trade, it adds.

He has quoted the letter received from the CEO, NITI Aayog, who has stated, "I am writing to congratulate you on the wonderful work your team is doing to facilitate exports and imports of our country during these challenging times. This was also reflected in our improved 'Trading Across Borders' ranking (in the World Banks Ease of Doing Business Rankings) from 146 in the year 2018 to 68 now." The Additional Secretary, MEA has vide his letter dated 16.04.2020, appreciated and thanked the "outstanding work of our Customs department in Mumbai" for the expeditious clearance of medicines sent to the Dominican Republic. M/s Ingram Micro India Private Limited, vide their letter dated 20.04.2020 have stated 'As an AEO-T2 taking advantage of the many facilitations extended by CBIC, we have gone ahead last year and started clearing goods under the SELF Clearance process. The entire process has now become so simple and easy. When you combine the above new facilitations with Advance filing of BE, System Appraisal (RMS), Deferred Customs duty payment and Direct Port Delivery (Air & Sea) it results in predictability in the customs clearance process and reduction in costs and TAT. We see significant improvement in working capital requirement management as the entire import process has become very predictable and can be planned to time the arrival of goods just in time to fulfil requirements.'" Their cargo was systems cleared within 37 minutes of their filing the BE at the Delhi Custom House.

The Chairman further quotes that the Brihanmumbai Custom Brokers Association (BCBA), have vide their email sent on 28.04.2020, stated that newly introduced customs "facilitation measures have taken a large pile of burden from us as well as our clients.... We are confident that once the turbulence of COVID pandemic is over, the above implemented initiatives will help Indian trade and industry to achieve higher growth trajectory and further improve the index of Ease of Doing Business ratings." The Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations in India (FFFAI) have vide their letter dated 02.05.2020 thanked the Finance Minister stating, "The pace of e-progress of Customs is unmatchable even by business entities that are struggling to catch up especially in the recent times. Neither COVID 19 not the lockdown has been a hindrance for Customs as the highest level of the Board is the driving force and the monitoring authority of the progress. "

The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), have vide their email dated 15.05.2020 placed on record that "Despite the lockdown, the Customs department under your leadership has remained open at various ports such as Jaipur, Surat, Delhi and officials have bravely come forward to ensure exports to take place. The department of Customs worked relentlessly for the gems and jewellery exports and we as an industry thank you and your department for their constant support."

The Chairman has congratulated all for the extraordinary work, which has brought encomiums for the Department from the stakeholders.