Jakarta (VNA) - The online ASEAN Customs Transit System (ACTS) was officiallylaunched on November 30 to accelerate trade in goods by road withinSoutheast Asia.

In 2017, ASEAN economicministers set the twin goals of reducing trade transaction costs by 10 percent by2020 and doubling intra-bloctrade between 2017 and 2025. ACTS has beendeveloped to realise this goal to allow businesses to lodge e-transitdeclarations directly to ASEAN customs authorities and track themovement of their goods from loading to delivery.

Being developed with the support of the European Union, ACTS issimplifying the movement of goods across the region, making it moreefficient and cost-effective. 

Following trials in Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam,the system has now been formally launched.

The first successful ACTS transit movement occurred on October 23-24 whena truck travelled from Singapore via Malaysia to Thailand. 

The system will soon beavailable in Myanmar, and, depending on business needs, may later be expandedto Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Now transporters can make a single customs transit declaration that coversthe transport of goods across multiple countries, without the need to makerepeated customs declarations or change vehicles at each border. 

Special arrangements allow reliable traders to load their goods at their ownpremises in the country of departure, and to deliver the goods to their ownpremises at other places.

Faster customs clearance at borders helps accelerate transit and reducethe time and expenses needed for carrying out regional trade in goods.

Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of ASEAN, said: “The implementation of theASEAN Customs Transit System plays a vital role in facilitating seamlessmovement of goods in the region. I believe the system will be an excellent toolin enhancing ASEAN’s trade and production networks as well as establishing amore unified market for its firms and consumers.

“ACTS could also support post-COVID recovery to accelerate the transit movementof medical supplies, vaccines and personal protective equipment within themember states.” 

The system is managed by a permanent ACTS central management team based in theASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, with support from the EU-funded ARISEPlus programme.  

"ACTSis a remarkable achievement that is testament to the strong, dynamic andlong-standing partnership between ASEAN and the European Union,” Koen Doens,director general for international cooperation and development at the EuropeanCommission, said. 

“The EU is proud to have joined ASEAN to make ACTS a reality, providingEuropean technical expertise and 10 million euros since 2012.”
ARISE Plus has providedextensive ACTS training for stakeholders in the public and private sectors,including customs authorities, government transport agencies, freightforwarders, transporters, banks, and insurance companies./.