Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 17 February, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting to further reform customs and transform it into a sphere free from corruption.

The customs system is an important link between the domestic and global economies. If this system does not work correctly and transparently, it will only hinder entrepreneurship and investment.

Therefore, in 2019, the reform of customs administration and procedures began. In particular, corridors of simplified control are organized at customs posts. Today, 95 percent of passengers and 75 percent of cargo pass through them. Permits of 60 types, which were previously issued by 12 different departments, are now provided electronically through a “single window”. As a result, the time of customs clearance was reduced by 10 times.

The Development Strategy for 2022-2026 sets the goal of bringing the volume of exports to US$30 billion and the number of foreign tourists to 7 million. This places a special responsibility on the customs authorities.

In this regard, the meeting focused on the development of the customs system, improving conditions at the posts.

- Customs posts are the face of our country, it is here that the first impression is formed. They should have comfortable conditions for the population and entrepreneurs, Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

Instructions were given on improving the infrastructure of border customs posts, improving the territory adjacent to them, reconstructing some posts and repairing the roads leading to them.

The head of state stressed that the transformation of the customs system into a sphere free from corruption is a priority task, the customs authorities should become an example for other state departments in this.

For this, a modern compliance control system will be introduced. From May 1 this year, the cargo declaration will be processed outside the posts, remotely, without direct contact with the entrepreneur. From 1 July, automated detection of corruption risks will be established in determining codes and costs, customs inspection, and preferential declaration of goods. And from 1 September, all electronic services in the field of customs will be provided through a "single window". By the end of the year, an electronic system will be launched that will cover all customs clearance processes.

The State Customs Committee, the Ministry for the Development of Information Technologies and Communications and the Ministry of Finance have been tasked with fully digitalizing customs services.

Instructions were also given regarding the admission of candidates for service on the basis of an open competition, the rotation of employees, and the declaration of their income and property.

To prevent corruption, special attention should be paid to the material support and social protection of employees, it was noted at the meeting. So, depending on the results of their work, customs officers will be paid a salary bonus, bonuses will be introduced for service at remote and busy posts.

Employees will be paid bonuses for detecting smuggling or identifying other offences. The amount of allowances for special ranks will be increased.

Particular attention will be paid to the social security of employees. Thus, service houses will be built for employees serving at distant posts, employees who need housing will be provided with preferential mortgages. For customs officers and their children, a separate quota for admission to higher educational institutions will be established.

The President emphasized the importance of expanding the proportion of women among the staff of the service.

The meeting also analyzed the results of the fight against smuggling. In particular, over the past period of this year, the illegal import of 364 kilograms of narcotic drugs, 88,000 units of psychotropic drugs and goods worth 181 billion soums has been stopped.

To expand opportunities in this direction, the task is to equip customs posts with modern equipment, such as 3D scanners, X-ray machines, video surveillance equipment, servers, transport scales.

It was instructed to introduce this year at the international airports of Samarkand, Tashkent, Fergana and Termez, and from next year - at all airports the system of "control without a customs officer".

Particular attention is paid to the issues of training and advanced training of personnel for customs. The need for a radical transformation of the Customs Institute with the improvement of teaching foreign languages, information technology, metrology and standards was indicated. Instructions were given on improving the skills of employees in cooperation with the World Customs Organization, studying and implementing international best practices.