Customs ready for paperless trading

Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

Sri Lanka Customs is geared with technology to develop a fully fledged trade facilitation system.

Trade facilitation is an important aspect in electronic, commerce and steps to introduce this system failed during the past ten years.

It is essential to implement trade facilitation to supplement the Government's development efforts, Asian Shipper's Council Secretary Rohan Masakorala told Daily News Business.

The data related to trade facilitation is of national importance and should be well protected. It should be handled by the Central Bank's Statistics Department and a fully developed scheme should be in place, he said.

Trade facilitation gives positive support for the development of trade and business. Sri Lanka Customs should be responsible in holding data management forming a partnership with the private sector harnessing the necessary technology. "This would enhance the opportunity for the private sector to participate in trade facilitation. A model similar to Singapore could be set up through trade net. The collecting, storing and using data and information for policy decisions should carry out by the Government institutions despite the private sector involvement," Masakorala said.