Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on July 21, 2017, said that the National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (NTFAP) aims to align border procedures with international best practices and improve Ease of Doing Business. He said that it would not only ensure compliance with the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) but would also give impetus to trade facilitation.
Jaitley was speaking when Dr Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General, World Customs Organization (WCO), called on him at his office in North Block in Delhi. Jaitley said that this Action Plan gives a time bound map not only for implementing TFA, but also for India’s initiatives for trade facilitation and Ease of doing Business which goes beyond TFA. The Action Plan was released by Finance Minister Jaitley on July 20 in the national capital. Both the leaders discussed various other issues relating to Customs and Trade Facilitation, according a PIB release.
Dr Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General, WCO, appreciated the various initiatives taken by the Indian Customs to facilitate trade particularly the release of the National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (NTFAP). While praising the massive reforms undertaken by the present government in the Indian Taxation System including implementation of GST, Dr Mikuriya said that the efforts made with regard to outreach and capacity building before implementation of GST in India can be emulated by many other countries. Dr Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General, WCO, is on a two day official visit to India.