Weekly newsletter from Chairman, CBIC dated 21/06/2023
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
North Block, New Delhi-110 001
Tel. : +91-11-23092849, Fax : +91-11-23092890
E-mail : [email protected]
Vivek Johri, Chairman
DO No. 11/CH(IC)/2023 Dated: 21st June, 2023
In a world fast rushing forward, let us not forget to cast a glance back, for within the tapestry of our past lies the vibrant threads of our heritage. Like an intricate mosaic, our cultural legacy weaves together the stories of those who came before us, whispering timeless wisdom and invaluable lessons.
Preservation of heritage is more than a nostalgic indulgence; it is a profound act of homage to our roots. Just as a tree without its roots withers, an organization detached from its heritage loses its essence. However, heritage is not a stagnant relic; it breathes, evolves, and dances through the ages. It is the prism through which we view the present and the compass that guides our trajectory.
Keeping this objective in mind, the Directorate General of Taxpayer Services, has launched an initiative to identify authentic and valuable information regarding our heritage and to narrate it an engaging manner for internal as well external use.
It is proposed to form a Core Committee of officers for screening of content; deciding formats, presentation and cataloguing of the same. Officers with a passion for preserving our rich heritage have been invited to volunteer to be a part of the Committee. I would urge interested officers to contribute to his initiative.
Last week, in order to have a better understanding of time taken for various Customs processes, the National Time Release Study (NTRS) 2023 was released. The study covered xx major Customs formations and was complemented with a number of local TRSs.
I am delighted to share with you the findings of the National Time Release Study (NTRS) 2023, which has been released by Board on 15th June. The study serves as a performance measurement tool, shedding light on the quantitative measure of cargo release time at Customs stations. It is an invaluable resource for assessing our progress towards the National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (NTFAP) targets, identifying the impact of trade facilitation initiatives, and understanding the challenges we face in achieving expeditious reduction in release time.
I am pleased to inform you that the average release time for both-imports as well as exports has continued to improve, showcasing significant reductions across different port categories. Furthermore, decline in the measure of standard deviation reflects greater certainty in the expeditious release of EXIM cargo.
I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the NTRS team led by Sh. Vijay Singh Chauhan (Pr. Commissioner, retired) and Sh. Gaurav Masaldan, Joint Secretary for their dedicated efforts in presenting insightful reports in a timely manner.
I encourage each one of you to thoroughly go through the NTRS 2023 reports and analyze the findings. Let us take the necessary steps to build upon our achievements and further reduce release time, thereby strengthening our trade facilitation efforts. The collaboration among Customs, port authorities, Customs Brokers, and Participating Government Agencies (PGAs) has been pivotal in achieving improved release time, and I urge you to continue working together to enhance trade efficiency.
Together, we can transform challenges into opportunities and set new benchmarks for trade facilitation. I am confident that with our collective dedication and unwavering commitment, we will continue to achieve new milestones and drive economic growth.
Moving on, with a view to further facilitate exports, Mumbai Customs Zone II has prepared a vision statement under the theme “Nhava Sheva Export Encouragement Vision (NEEV)” .
Various initiatives and programs are proposed to be implemented by involving trade and officers. A number of initiatives including systemic improvements, enhanced information exchange with stakeholders, removing bottlenecks and timely processing are proposed to be undertaken for creating an environment of seamless clearance of export cargo.
On the anti-smuggling side, the week gone by saw Delhi Air Customs interdict 265 gold chains and bracelets weighing more than 16kgs and valued at more than Rs. 8 Cr from an incoming passenger. Congratulations to the officers for their excellent work.
Till next week!
Yours Sincerely,.
(Vivek Johri)
All Officers and Staff of Central Board of Indirect Taxes 86 Customs
