Al Amin :
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is going to introduce an automated National Enquiry Point (NEP) in line with facilitating the cross border trades.
Through the NEP system, anyone can be able to get the reply of their trade related queries within designated time, the NBR officials said.
The NEP is one of the obligatory measures of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (FTA) of the WTO and the NBR is the lead agency to implement the measures as it is responsible for implementation of 37 measures out of 38.
Considering the increased international trades, NBR has started numerous modernization activities following the requirements of the WTO’s TFA with the help of World Bank Group, USAID, ADB, ACO and other development partners.
It is projected if FTA is implemented, trade costs could be reduced by 14.3 per cent and at the same time, the global trade will be augmented up to $ 1 trillion.
The TFA eases trade across the borders, which will ultimately help Bangladesh expedite export-import, the NBR officials said.
They further said an office order has already been issued for developing the NEP system at Customs.
Some trained officers will be assigned to run the system and the NBR is now providing training to the officials, they added.
NBR has already created a separate User named System Admin to operate the NEP successfully, they said.
Three teams-NEP member, Supervisor and officer– have already been formed so that the traders and the stakeholders are able to submit their enquiries and to get replies quickly, the officials said.
“The introduction of the National Enquiry Point is a good initiative of the NBR as the system will resolve the problems of the traders,” Abul Kasem Khan, Chairperson of the trustee board of Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD), told The New Nation on Sunday.
“The effective implementation of it will help the country make a good position at the World Bank’s Doing Business ranking, which surely sends a green signal to the business communities to invest here,” said Kasem, also former president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).
Apart from the trade facilitative measures, NBR has already implemented Advance ruling, incorporated strong judicial procedure (ADR), formed central and local Risk Management unit, approved National Single Window project, withdrawn mandatory pre-shipment inspection system and developed ASYCUDA World (automated and online based customs software).
NBR is also working to develop a full-fledged Electronic Payment Gateway system and going to start authorized Economic Operator.
NBR is also ensuring more simplified and facilitated trade which will attract foreign investment in the country, officials said.
