Yesterday, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a meeting on further reforming the customs and transforming it into a corruption-free sphere, reports “Dunyo” IA correspondent.

According to the press service of the President of Uzbekistan, the customs system is an important link between the domestic and global economies. If this system does not work correctly and transparently, it will only hinder entrepreneurship and investment.

Therefore, in 2019, the reformation of customs administration and procedures began. In particular, simplified control corridors are organized at customs posts. Today, 95 percent of passengers and 75 percent of cargo pass through them. Permits of 60 types, which were previously issued by 12 different agencies, are now provided electronically through a single window. As a result, the time of customs clearance has been reduced by 10 times.

The Development Strategy for 2022-2026 sets a goal to bring the volume of exports to $30 billion and the number of foreign tourists to 7 million. This places a special responsibility on the customs authorities.

In this regard, main attention at the event was paid to the development of the customs system, improving conditions at the posts.

“Customs posts are the face of our country, it is here that the first impression is formed. They should have convenient conditions for the population and entrepreneurs”, Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

Instructions were given to improve the infrastructure of border customs posts, improve the adjacent territory, reconstruct some posts and repair roads leading to them.

The Head of the state stressed that the transformation of the customs system into a corruption-free sphere is a priority task, and customs authorities should become an example for other government agencies in this.

To do this, a modern compliance control system will be implemented. From May 1 this year, the cargo declaration will be processed outside the posts, remotely, without direct contact with the entrepreneur. From July 1, automated detection of corruption risks will be established when determining codes and costs, customs inspection, preferential declaration of goods. And from September 1, all electronic services in the field of customs will be provided through a single window. By the end of the year, an electronic system will be launched that will cover all customs inspection processes.

The State Customs Committee, the Ministry for the Development of Information Technologies and Communications and the Ministry of Finance have been tasked with fully digitalizing customs services.

Instructions were also given regarding the admission of candidates to the service based on open competition, the rotation of employees, the declaration of their income and property.

It was noted that to prevent corruption, the main attention should be paid to the material security and social protection of employees. So, depending on the results of the work, a salary supplement will be paid to customs officers, allowances for service at remote and busy posts will be introduced.

Employees will be paid bonuses for detecting contraband or detecting other offenses. The number of allowances for special ranks will be increased.

The main attention will be paid to the social security of employees. So, service houses will be built for employees serving at distant posts, employees in need of housing will be provided with a preferential mortgage. A separate quota for admission to higher education institutions will be established for customs officers and their children.

The President stressed the importance of expanding the proportion of women among the service employees.

The results of the fight against smuggling were also analyzed at the meeting. In particular, over the past period of this year, the illegal import of 364 kilograms of narcotic drugs, 88 thousand units of psychotropic drugs and goods worth 181 billion UZS was suppressed.

To expand opportunities in this direction, the task has been set to equip customs posts with modern equipment, such as 3D scanners, X-ray machines, video surveillance equipment, servers, transport scales.

It was instructed to introduce the control without a customs officer system this year at the international airports of Samarkand, Tashkent, Fergana and Termez, and from next year – at all airports.

The main attention was also paid to the issues of training and advanced training of personnel for customs. The need for a radical transformation of the Customs Institute with the improvement of teaching foreign languages, information technology, metrology and standards was noted. Instructions were given on improving the skills of employees in cooperation with the World Customs Organization, studying and implementing international best practices.