New Tasks for the Customs

16.10.2008 (17:13)

The Federal Customs Service board approved conception of the customs processing points relocation at Russia’s external frontiers till 2020. Andrey Belyaninov, Head of Russia Federal Customs Service tells about its features to the correspondent of IA RZD-Partner.Ru.

– Mr. Belyaninov, could you tell about idea of conception and its tasks.

– The conception is aimed to provide required level of Russian Federation interests’ protection, improve customs administration, develop infrastructure of the RF border regions, decrease traffic volume in the large Russian cities. We understand that it is possible to form cargo flows according to the interests of our country. The conception is a part of the Federal Customs Service Strategy till 2020.

Realization of the conception is a difficult problem, because Russia’s customs development strategy was concerned only inner regions. It is necessary to change the ways of custom staff training, develop social sphere providing effective operation of customs in border regions.

– What do you think about reaction of business?

– Earlier the customs followed business when we have lack of means. Nowadays, we can lead the business, if the rules which we develop are observed. Businessmen should understand importance of this work, because it is necessary to create transport and logistic centers with customs clearance. We can’t operate without big business and participants of external-economic market.

– There are a lot of custom clearance points in capital regions and the problem of corruption is still urgent…

– It is easier to control custom processes and struggle with corruption at the border. There is a big problem hampering work – lack of professional staff in the regions where custom processing will be carried out. However we have reserves, on southern frontiers, for example. We will direct good flows there.

– What measures are taken nowadays?

– Relocation of custom processing points at external frontiers is the very difficult work. We take first steps. There are 58 customs processing points in Moscow. We think that several customs points and warehouses in Moscow region will be closed. We carried out this procedure in Saint Petersburg and relocated customs points out of town. There is a plan of dislocation customs points from Moscow and Moscow region.

Also, we plan to hold consultation with businessmen and Heads of frontier regions to explain advantages which they will get if they take part in transport and logistic schemes creation.

Interviewed by Stanislav Russkov
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