The participants of the thematic session "Modern Challenges and New Partnerships: The Development of Customs Regulation in the EAEU" as part of the 2nd Eurasian Economic Forum considered prospects for developing customs cooperation in the Eurasian Economic Union and issues related to adopting promising information technologies in customs business, using digital tools and platforms with the aim to create a more comfortable environment for interaction between businesses, people and state authorities, as well as accelerating and facilitating transboundary trade.
"I would name customs regulation a key element of the Eurasian integration," Eldar Alisherov, Minister in charge of Customs Cooperation of the Eurasian Economic Commission, emphasized. "Thus, it is very important to create a space of trust in the customs sphere within our integration space. Not only state controlling authorities must trust each other but also businesses must have confidence in all authorities of the Union countries. This is possible only if digital solution and procedures are actively adopted in customs administration."
The session moderator Ruslan Davydov, Acting Head of the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation, continued the discussion in this vein. In particular, he noted: "Customs administration needs to be further improved in the direction of developing e-commerce and introducing digital customs technologies, such as electronic seals, as well as systems of traceability and marking of goods. All countries are unanimous that it is necessary to move forward faster on these issues.”
The session participants paid special attention to the development of trans-Eurasian logistics in overcoming barriers arising from disruption of transport and logistics chains. They also expressed a consensus on the need for further work to unify and standardize customs procedures and customs control operations, develop an e-commerce institution and unify electronic document flow.
“We consider it impossible to improve customs administration without digitalization or the rapid development of modern technologies in our field. Efficient cooperation is impossible without appropriate electronic platforms that allow the exchange of information. There should be inconspicuous administration both in the customs and tax spheres, but at the same time quite efficient supervision is needed because commodity flows and transit through our countries are increasing more and more,” noted Ashot Muradyan, Deputy Chairman of the State Revenue Committee of the Republic of Armenia.