The Customs Department of the Ministry of Finance has proved its worth as an effective government structure to secure the nations economy while supporting the budget. The department in 2020 made great strides in securing the economy and generating revenue for the national budget.
The Department has announced that it generated revenue worth 705, 2 billion CFA during the 2020 financial year though the initial target assigned to the institution was 650 billion.
This was announced by the Director General of the Department Fongod Edwin Nuvaga while delivering his address during the ceremony to celebrate the International Custom Day. While the Director General outlined the various achievements made by the Customs department, he took time to present the results obtained by the regions amongst which the region of litoral is the first in terms of revenue collection
In terms of improving the trade environment at the level of the borders, the department has made enormous progress is in easing produces. This according to the Fongod Edwin Nuvaga is one of the achievements of the year 2020. The putting in place of the new Custom Information System CAMCIS, the Director General acknowledged has simplified procedures. CAMCIS and the E-One Stop Shop at the Nsimalen has dematerialized procedures and have impacted conditions for external trade.
Not left out is improvement registered in the fight against illicit trade and contrabands. In 2020 the Customs thanks to its system of surveillance seized tons of goods and items meant for illicit trade and contrabands. These include tons of explosives, gold, elephant tusks, Indian hem, vegetable oil, arms, protected species, drugs just to name a few. This exploits were made through collaboration and participation in schemes like “Operation Stop” and Global Shield programme of the World Custom Organisation.
With these achievements, the Director General reiterated the engagement of the Custom Department to work with the international custom community especially during this period marked by COVID 19 to support people and business by strengthening supply chain and reinforcing collaboration, harnessing technology and putting people at the centre of transformation process.
Speaking to journalist the Minister of Finance Louis Paul Motaze hailed the achievements made by the Customs Department in the generation of revenue especially in hard times like the context of COVID 19. The MINFI boss encouraged the Custom Department to achieve the objectives that have been assignee to them this year stating that he is optimistic the Custom Department can do.
It should be recalled that the International Day of Customs is day set aside for Customs Department to reflect on combine efforts towards facilitating trade at the borders. Commemorated under the theme ” Customs bolstering Recovery, Renewal and Resilience for sustainable supply”, the focus is to bring Customs Department World wide to unite efforts to emerge from the corona virus crisis.
It should noted that the celebrations were marked by the award of certificates to meritorious workers and gifts to those going on retirement.
