Afghan Customs: Way Ahead Dr. Najibullah Wardak Director General, Afghan Customs Department September 4, 2015

Major Customs Crossings Duplicate this slide.  Afghanistan shares 5,600 Km border with 6 countries  12 recognized border crossings (with BCPs) through which trade is allowed

ACD Current Reform Agenda  Automation & Infrastructure Development  Customs to Customs Cooperation (C2C)  Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures  Developing TIR regime for transit facilitation  Collaborative Border Management  Risk Management System  Single Window System  E-Payments

Computerized National Platform  All recognized crossings and inland customs offices are computerized allowing automated processing of customs declarations under ASYCUDA  Can be easily linked up through EDI with other customs administrations for real-time data exchange  ASYCUDA platform allows adding other specialized functions too- viz. traffic department, container control for counter- narcotics operations, licensing agencies, NEPA etc.  ACD planning to develop single window platform for collaborative and smooth border management

Customs-to-Customs Cooperation  ACD actively trying to establish C2C cooperation with neighboring countries in following areas: Electronic data exchange Joint Customs control Harmonization of procedures & working hours Shared infrastructure facilities at the borders Joint Operations against drug syndicates & smugglers- controlled delivery & precursor control Capacity building of Customs officials

Progress in C2C Cooperation  C2C Agreement already signed with Tajikistan along with detailed protocol for data exchange  C2C Agreement is under process and Joint Gate and customs facilities MOU is signed with Iran  C2C Agreement with Pakistan in final stages for covering joint examination and remote port office, regular exchange of data already started  Draft C2C agreements are shared with UAE, Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan

Way Ahead Measures towards time-bound achievement of Customs goals:  C2C Agreements with Turkey, Azerbaijan, India and other countries in the region planned in near future  Developing TIR regime for smooth transit traffic  Building Afghanistan as a regional transit and trade hub- Lapis Lazuli Framework, Chahbahar Highway & 5-Nations Railway Corridor etc.

Thank You! Dr Najibullah Wardak Director General, Afghan Customs