PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSMIS) – The FSM has taken a significant step towards modernizing customs management and enhancing trade facilitation. On Wednesday March 27th, 2024, at the Congress Central Facilities Building in Palikir, Vice President Aren B. Palik welcomed the launching of the new Customs automated system in the FSM. The new Customs management system, called ASYCUDAWorld, is used in more than 100 countries worldwide, including most of our neighboring Pacific Island countries. The modern system is now fully operational in Pohnpei and is due to be implemented in Yap next month, followed by Chuuk and Kosrae in May and June respectively.
Vice President Aren B. Palik underscored the importance of ASYCUDAWorld, stating that \”it represents a significant milestone for our trading community, offering unprecedented benefits such as reduced clearance times, improved accuracy, and enhanced transparency. This Initiative is a great example of the coming of FSM digital transformation and a clear indication of our efforts to support the business community, ensuring that Pohnpei, and soon after Yap, Chuuk and Kosrae, remain competitive in the global market.”
The digital platform is a cornerstone of the European Union-funded Improving Pacific Island Customs and Trade (IMPACT) project implemented by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and aims to enhance regional and international trade in the Pacific by standardizing and simplifying customs operations.
ASYCUDAWorld will enable the CTA to apply streamlined customs legislation at all levels, facilitate collection of customs duties, increase government revenue, and eliminate any fraud and corruption.
What is ASYCUDAWorld?
ASYCUDAWorld is an efficient digital platform that supports the enhancement of customs operational capacity in line with international standards and best practices. The system brings revolution to the country’s customs operations by automating processes including manifest management, customs declarations, accounting transactions, and suspense procedures.
The implementation of the ASYCUDAWorld system aligns to the global trend as the FSM becomes the 14th Pacific Island Country and among the 103 countries and territories across the globe to implement the system. The system offers improved customs revenue, reliable trade statistics, and reduced times and costs associated with customs clearance processes.
This initiative signifies a milestone for Pohnpei and represents a crucial step forward for the FSM in the broader spectrum of regional harmonization and modernization of customs practices. The IMPACT project and the introduction of ASYCUDAWorld are set to guide in a new era of efficient, reliable, and streamlined customs management, promising substantial benefits for the trading community and the economies of the Pacific Island countries.
The platform is accessible online at https://fsm.asycuda.org/ , where businesses intending to import regularly will be required to complete a registration form available on the system\’s web portal. To ensure a smooth transition, the old PC Trade system will remain operational for payment processing until the end of April 2024.
For further information, the ASYCUDA administration team can be contacted on phone 320 2826 / 320 5508 or via email at cta@dofa.gov.fm.
