Faster, cheaper and easier transport of goods as of 2015 - What will New Computerized Transit System (NCTS) bring?

Faster flow of goods, more efficient transit procedure, paperless customs clearance and shorter queues of trucks at border crossings must wait for the year 2015 when the New Computerized Transit System (NCTS), a necessary condition for the admission of our country to the European Union, is planned to become effective in Serbia.

In association with the EU Delegation to Belgrade, the Customs Administration has successfully implemented the project Construction of Administrative Capacities of Customs Service for Full Implementation of Common Transit of the European Union. A total of 1.5 million euros from the IPA funds were spent on the implementation of that project, while 4.1 million euros have already been provided for the implementation of the New Computerized Transit System in Serbia.

Zoran Ruzic, assistant director of the Customs Administration, explained for eKapija that the first phase of activities included the development of administrative capacities, recording of processes, facilities, equipment, harmonization of Serbia's legislation and customs procedures with the legislation, standards and procedures of the European Union and member countries, and inclusion in the network of 31 countries (27 member countries of the EU and 4 member countries of the EFTA). All that is now to be followed by a four-year implementation, meaning that our companies will be able to transport goods faster, cheaper and easier as of 2015.

- The greatest benefit lies in paperless operations, that is, the possibility of using a message exchange system instead of the former registration procedure for vehicles and goods. That will enable a submitted declaration to be used for the entire course of the transport, meaning that the whereabouts of the goods will be known at any moment. Apart from time saving, money savings are huge as well - said Ruzic and announced some additional customs reliefs in 2011.

Mr. Ruzic, the leader of the Information Technologies Sector, pointed out that one of the most important features would be the automated information system for imports and exports. Thanks to that system, once submitted document will not have to be submitted ever again.

Speaking about delays at border crossings, Dragan Dragovic, the project team manager at the Customs Administration of Serbia, said for eKapija that the NCTS would reduce them to a minimum.

- Average delay at Batrovci border crossing is 34 minutes, at Horgos - 60, at Gradina - about 40, at Presevo - about 28 minutes. Once the new system is introduced, there won't be queues of freight vehicles at border crossings any more. The current rules say that if the driver of a vehicle does not have a TIR carnet, the vehicle must be stopped and checked at each border, which usually takes three hours. According to new rules, no papers are needed and there are no delays. Also, there are no expenses for TIR and traders do not have to prepare a vehicle for driving under TIR carnet. Actually, exporter, operator of freight-forwarder submit all documents electronically as soon as goods are dispatched so that delays at border crossings are cut to a minimum and the subjectivity of all those checking the goods is either eliminated or reduced to the smallest possible extent.

As Dragovic stressed, the idea of the European Union is to be of assistance to the economy sector, which means that the EU trusts enterprises a lot.

Mr. Dragovic invited businessmen to get familiar with the NCTS on time and prepare for the new system.

Sаvаs Kаsаpis, the manager of the Consortium of consulting companies that worked on the implementation, led by Intrasoft, stressed that the cooperation with the Customs Administration was excellent and added that it was their first project in Serbia and that its results would contribute to the success of future projects in our country.

Georgios Pаpаjаnis, the programme implementation manager at the Department for Economy of the EU Delegation to Belgrade, stated that the aim of the implemented project was to provide support to the Customs Administration and enable the introduction of paperless operations without delays at border crossings of the EU and EFTA countries in the best possible way.

M.K.