First-time online clearance to favour business, avoid corruption and increase transparency

The procedure was applied today in a company in Tirana at the presence of Prime Minister Edi Rama, Minister of Finance Shkelqim Cani, Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Entrepreneurship Arben Ahmetaj and Director General of Customs Elisa Spiropali.

The demonstration showed the whole procedure of customs clearance of goods, which after entering the border crossing are not kept at the customs premises but go directly to the company's stores. From this moment the authorized person of the company produces custom declaration, previously made by a customs agency, and sends it electronically to the Customs, stating the merchandise arrived with all its elements. With the new application, this procedure is performed in just a few minutes, while before it would take almost 1 day at the customs.

Company Administrator explained the benefits this simplified procedure has for the business:

"This creates big advantages, especially for food products which used to make a first stop at the border and then come at the customs in Tirana, while this procedure is now eliminated. This has a great importance also for exports, especially in Kosovo. Any moment we have ready the containers, we head straight to Kosovo without stopping at the border. This is an additional advantage because, besides performing operations with speed and ease, we have monetary benefit while before we had to bear tremendous costs. Now, some operational costs have been totally eliminated. According to our calculations as a company, we manage to save 4-5 thousand Euros per month, a very significant savings for the company that runs almost 50- 60 thousand Euros per year."

Director General of Customs Elisa Spiropali said that the goal of the customs administration is to create business facilities, increase transparency and fight corruption. She also explained how to get the status of authorized economic operator.

"Above all it increases transparency, reduces bureaucracy because it eliminates physical contact between business and customs officials, makes the process electronic and transparent. In addition, it cuts costs for everyone. The more businesses comply with the law, are honest, have no obligations to the customs and taxes, the more they get this status granted by the new Customs Code that has already passed in parliament, but also thanks to an improved IT infrastructure and improved customs procedures. Our aim is to fight corruption, increase transparency and facilitate business. All companies can apply, firstly, to become part of simplified procedures and then to get the status of authorized economic operator. Applying businesses will pass through this filter, but we have calculated over 150 businesses in Tirana and other regions can receive it. Procedure can be performed by next February. So, until February 2015 we will have completed not only the application stage, but also the selection of companies"- Spiropali said. This was the first authorized company to perform simplified customs procedures for imported goods. Meanwhile, many other serious companies will be authorized and will benefit from this eased procedure of the declaration of goods at customs.