Improving Customs Transit Systems

In the Islamic Countries

- Ha Noi, 1998) and began work on developing the associated legal instruments. As part of this

programme, the role of Customs control, management, and regulation remain a critical

component. Without the harmonization of Customs procedures, documents, and systems, the

potential of the transport corridors may not be realized. The AFAFGT set out a package of Trade

Facilitation measures designed to achieve the objectives set out in Article 1, namely:



To facilitate transportation of goods in transit, to support the implementation of the

ASEAN Free Trade Area, and to further integrate the region’s economies;



To simplify and harmonize transport, trade and customs regulations and requirements

for the purpose of facilitation of goods in transit; and



To establish an effective, efficient, integrated, and harmonized transit transport system

in ASEAN

2.2.1.2

Brief History

The European Union has supported the creation of the ACTS under its ASEAN Programmes for

Regional Integration Support (APRIS I and II)

. The new ARISE programme (ASEAN Regional

Integration supported by EU) continues this assistance from 2013 to 2016, and as a priority,

efforts will be concentrated on the implementation of the ACTS and other essential regional

Customs integration activities.

In 2008, an ACTS Feasibility Study was prepared by a joint team of experts from the European

Union and ASEAN MS. The Functional Specifications has been approved by the AMS. The basic

design of the ACTS is based on the EU’s NCTS.

The situation has changed since the Functional Specifications was completed. Technical

improvements have since beenmade to the software development environment. In addition, the

EU has re-worked the technical modules of the NCTS system from which the ACTS may be able

to draw benefit.

As part of its inception activities, ARISE has commissioned a review of the ACTS software

proposals. The objective is to make recommendations to the AMS in terms of the savings that

can be made towards the cost of development of the ACTS software application over those

estimated at the end of 2008, taking into consideration that the European Union has earmarked

the sum of 3 million euros for development and piloting of the ACTS system. Secondly, during

the last four years, the ASEAN Single Window project has progressed to the point where data is

being moved over a network established between the Customs Administrations. Clearly, there

is no place for two IT networks linking the Customs Administrations, and there is consequently,

a requirement to review the network proposal for the ACTS to ensure that scarce components

(ASEANProgrammeforRegionalIntegration-

PhaseII).aspx