3-day SASEC customs officials’ meeting kicks off

Kathmandu: A three-day meeting of customs officials from the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) member countries commenced in Kathmandu Monday, bringing together top customs administrators from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar.

Opening the event, Chief Guest and Finance Secretary Dinesh Kumar Ghimire stressed the need for concrete cooperation among member states to make cross-border trade faster and more efficient. He highlighted that the use of modern technology in customs procedures and coordinated border management could help reduce delays, increase transparency, and contribute to achieving the shared goal of regional economic prosperity.

Mahesh Bhattarai, Director General of Nepal’s Department of Customs and Chair of the SASEC Customs Subgroup, said the meeting would strengthen collaboration in cross-border trade, customs processes, and transport management among member countries. He noted that member nations are increasingly adopting digital technology to make cross-border trade faster, easier, and more transparent, and emphasized that such meetings accelerate these initiatives.

According to Customs Department Director Narayan Prasad Regmi, the agenda includes discussions on document exchange at major border points, the development of an advance information-sharing system for import-export goods, the use of the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS), and improvements in border management and cross-border transport facilitation.

Representatives from participating countries underscored the importance of adopting modern technology and strengthening intergovernmental coordination to reduce procedural complexities and delays at borders. The meeting is also expected to outline common regional trade policies, fully digitize customs processes, develop infrastructure, and promote information technology to facilitate trade.

The conference, which runs for three days, is anticipated to elevate regional cooperation in customs and border management to a new level.