To deliver speed to exporters customs rules must be recast: Revenue secretary Arvind Shrivastava

New Delhi: Customs procedures must be reoriented to deliver speed and certainty to Indian exporters, as the country re-engages with the global markets, said revenue secretary Arvind Shrivastava.

Addressing the National Symposium on Customs Reforms on Thursday, he said India stood at an important juncture in its economic journey, with expanding trade volume, deeper integration in global value chains and a rapidly growing digital commerce ecosystem.

Increasing citizen aspirations demand governance systems that are efficient, transparent and responsive, placing fresh demands on governance, he said. "As India seeks to expand manufacturing and support MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises), digital entrepreneurs and startups, customs procedures must actively enable the exporters to access global markets with speed and certainty," Shrivastava said.


He said that the customs administration is not merely a regulatory authority but also an institution that facilitates economic growth, strengthens supply chains, protects society and enhances India's global competitiveness. The revenue secretary further said that the relationship between the revenue department and industry stakeholders is undergoing a shift from an authoritative and adversarial approach to one based on partnership, collaboration and cooperation.

"We are willing to listen and incorporate those suggestions which are for the good of everybody," he said.

The two mainstays of the customs reforms announced in the budget, he said, were "trust in stakeholders and effective use of technology".