WCO World Customs Organization : Nepal Customs validates its fifth Customs Reform and Modernization Strategic and Action Plan

The Nepalese Customs Department, with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Customs Organization (WCO), held a three-day seminar in Chitwan, Nepal on 26 - 28 November 2016, with the objective to validate their Fifth Customs Reform and Modernization Strategic and Action Plan (CRMSAP) 2017-2021. Customs senior management from all areas and key employees attended. The Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Commerce and other governmental agencies, as well as ADB officials and experts were represented. The seminar was funded by ADB's Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction, 'Technical Assistance for Supporting Participation in the SASEC Trade Facilitation Program,' under which WCO-ADB collaboration has led to a number of joint activities. The ADB Technical Assistance has been supporting the implementation of the ongoing fourth-phase CRMSAP 2013-2017, including its mid-term review which provided the analytical basis for the formulation of the fifth phase.

In the coming four-year period Nepal Customs will continue their engagement with a number of project activities striving to achieve the strategic goals of ensuring a professional and competent Customs Service, correct revenue collection, and safety and security for the Nepalese society.

Notable achievements to date include the formal adoption of the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC).

For the last two days of the seminar, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and other representatives of the private sector were invited, as was the WCO representative. After presentations of the CRMSAP, as well as of the results of a recently carried out TRS, group work followed. Six groups were tasked with reviewing different areas of the plan, such as Trade Facilitation, HR Management, Safety and Security etc. After their discussions, the groups presented their inputs and comments to the assembled participants.

The WCO expert noted that the fifth CRMSAP was in line with WCO instruments and tools. She underlined the importance of areas such as good performance indicators, risk and compliance management, project coordination and change management. The Director General of Customs Mr. Sishir Kumar Dunanga and his Deputy Mr. Shreekrishna Nepal took note of the comments, while emphasizing their perceived need for continued support from the WCO in several technical areas.