Bangladesh must sign up for world's easy customs system

Trade analysts yesterday underscored immediate implementation of the ATA Carnet System to help Bangladeshi businessmen compete on an equal footing with rivals.
The ATA Carnet simplifies the custom formalities by allowing a single document to be used for clearing goods through customs in the countries that are part of the system.
The need for the system is felt as the world experiences expansion of trade that has led to considerable growth of temporary exports and imports of goods.
"Industrialists and traders need to display their products at trade fairs and exhibitions, as these can offer them a valuable means for marketing their products abroad," said Mahbubur Rahman, president of International Chamber of Commerce Bangladesh (ICCB), at a workshop on ATA Carnet System in Dhaka.
Bangladesh is a member of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the intergovernmental organisation of customs administrators for the running of the recent and comprehensive international customs convention governing temporary admission of goods under 'ATA Carnet', namely the 'Istanbul Convention'.
"But Bangladeshi businessmen and its foreign partners cannot take advantage of the benefits and facilities offered by ATA Carnet, as the country is not yet a contracting party to Istanbul Convention," he said.
The ATA Convention that was put in place 45 years ago has become the most important customs document for the temporary duty-free admission of goods.
The ATA Carnet procedure has weathered many implementation problems and proved capable of adapting to a variety of new international transactions, he added.
Introduction of the system in Bangladesh will have a positive impact on foreign trade by ensuring local exporting firms are able to compete with other trading nations on the world market and facilitate integration into the global economy, Rahman said.
The ATA Carnet is used in 66 countries, including India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. A number of countries in Asia and Latin America are fairly advanced in the preparatory work involved in the accession to the system.
Abu Alam Chowdhury, vice president of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, R Maksud Khan, chairman of ICCB standing committee on customs regulations, reforms and modernisation, Ju-Song Lee, ICC WCF Carnet adviser, were also present at the two-day workshop.
Khan observed that adoption of the ATA Carnet by Bangladesh is of utmost importance to attract investment and further enhance exports.
Participants from the National Board of Revenue, commerce ministry, Export Promotion Bureau, Bangladesh Bank, trade bodies, commercial banks, associations and national companies were present.