Afghanistan customs

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The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has recognized that after over twenty-five years of war and civil strife there is now an enormous need for the reconstruction of infrastructure and the provision of basic services to the people of Afghanistan. Therefore, it has an obligation to raise the current level of revenue collected by the Customs Department, given the scale of the trade volume and its potential for revenue maximization. Additionally, it has recognized that modernized Customs departments worldwide serve as a tool to facilitate trade and business to encourage investment and are designed to make a major contribution to the creation of a beneficial economic and social development, environment.efwefrwrwere

In order for the Afghan Custom Department (ACD) to exercise its role within the next 5 years, it plans to enhance the current level of revenue collected and improve import and export clearance procedures. The simplification of Customs clearance procedures and the renovation and construction of physical infrastructure are seen as the basic needs for having a standard Customs department which allows for proper and effective Customs control. The ACD also intends to reorganize Headquarters and Regional Offices and enhance their capacity to a level where senior management is fully in control of Customs activities. Functioning Customs offices, both in the centre and in the provinces, are seen as a prerequisite for a fully functional and modern Customs department.

[edit] Afghanistan's Strategic Importance

Afghanistan is strategically placed between the Middle East, Central Asia and the sub-continent. As a land-locked country it is dependent on the transit of goods from its neighbours to develop trade. Pakistan and Iran are the two main countries from which Afghanistan can access sea ports. Afghanistan is a land bridge between these double land-locked countries of Central Asia; on one side, the Port of Karachi on the Arabian Sea and on the other, the Port of Bander Abbas in the Persian Gulf.

The Pakistan corridor connects the Pakistani ports of Karachi, Port Qasim and a new port of Gwader with the Afghan border crossings at Torkham and Spinboldak.

The Iran corridor connects the Iranian ports of Cha Bahar and Bandar Abbas with the Afghan border crossings at Zarang and Islam Qala.

In addition, the routes through the Central Asian Republics (CAR) connect Afghanistan to the Russian Federation as well as to European and Pacific ports via Tajikistan (border crossing at Sher Khan Bandar), Uzbekistan (border crossing at Hayratan) and Turkmenistan (border crossing at Torghundi).

Due to this strategic geographical position, Afghanistan also has the potential to become a link providing Pakistan and Iran with a direct route to the CAR and providing the CAR with its shortest distance to obtain access to the sea, in comparison with the routes to the Black Sea, Europe and China. The Trade and Customs Working Group (TCWG), in its meeting held at Bangkok (Oct 2004) under the Central Asia Transport and Trade Forum (CSATTF) organized by the Asian Development Bank, identified the following two corridors as the focal point for development:

South-North Corridor connecting the Pakistani ports of Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwader with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan;

West-East Corridor connecting the Iranian ports of Cha Bahar and Bandar Abbas with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Afghanistan understands its geographical importance and is aware of the responsibility which rests on its shoulders in regard to trade facilitation in the region. Keeping in view the gigantic task ahead, Afghanistan has undertaken a substantial reform program with the sole aim of creating an environment conducive to trade and industry development, not only for itself but for all the countries in the region.