Meeting of the Collegium of the State Customs Committee of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic was held today. The reporting period is 2021. The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky took part in the meeting organized via videoconference.
The Chairman of the State Customs Committee, Lieutenant Colonel of the Customs Service Valentin Grabko made the keynote speech. He will take over the department in 2021. The speaker noted that the customs committee continues its progressive development, the foundation of which was laid five years ago with the start of reforms in the customs sector. According to him, the trade turnover of Pridnestrovie increased by 50% in 2021 compared to 2020. The share of trade with Russia in the total trade turnover increased by 4% and amounted to 32%, European countries in the structure of Pridnestrovian foreign economic activity now occupy 27% (a decrease of 2%).
Revenues to the republican budget of customs payments increased by 22% - more than 900 million rubles were transferred (the figure exceeded the pre-pandemic figure by 90 million). The transition to cashless payments when paying customs duties ensured transparency and acceleration of the process, the Head of the committee emphasized. He focused on improving the legal framework, stressing that the agency is taking all possible measures to maximize the liberalization of foreign economic activity. Valentin Grabko said that the Supreme Council is considering another initiative of the State Customs Committee, aimed at simplifying the procedure for customs inspection. The speaker called the ongoing project "Electronic Customs" a strategic one. According to him, 106000 declarations were submitted to the Electronic Declaration Center in 2021. The Electronic Declaration Center draws up about 500 units during the day. The average processing time is 5 minutes. Process automation is of particular importance in this context. The Head of the State Customs Committee spoke about the software products used. It was noted that payment terminals were installed at all checkpoints.
Strengthening and developing dialogue with the business community remains a priority area of activity for the State Customs Committee of the PMR. Sanitary and epidemiological requirements have reduced the possibility of direct communication. Collective meetings with individual entrepreneurs were held via videoconferencing. Such a format is not as effective as a lively discussion of topical issues, the head of the department stated. He spoke about the activities of the Public Council established in August last year under the State Customs Committee and interaction with participants in foreign economic activity. As for advisory work with citizens, the implemented online consultation system is an active assistant in this area. The service received 2.5 thousand requests during the year. Another 1600 applications were received through the hotline. It was noted that the number of applications in the reporting period is 1000 less than in 2020. It is important that complaints about the actions or inaction of customs officers are isolated (there were 6 such complaints in 2021).
The report focuses on the issue of updating the customs infrastructure. Valentin Grabko reported on the ongoing installation of cargo platform scales up to 60 tons at the customs checkpoint "Pervomaisk" and "Dubossary-Bridge". Four specialized vehicles were purchased for operational units. Speaking about the technical equipment of checkpoints, Valentin Grabko informed that all customs terminals are equipped with video monitoring systems. 13 video recorders for inspectors (41 units in total) were purchased. Noting the importance of the work of the inspectors of the guard service, the head of the committee said that they seize up to 90% of drugs from circulation for example. Last year, the import of hashish oil and amphetamine was suppressed, about a hundred cartridges were confiscated. Five criminal cases have been opened. Increased attention is paid to blocking the channels of commodity smuggling. As for the results of the law enforcement activities of the customs authorities in general: officials of the State Customs Committee of the PMR in 2021 revealed 1262 violations of customs legislation. 2.5 million rubles were collected in the form of penalties.
Valentin Grabko focused on the topic of advanced training of customs personnel. He informed about online consultations held by Russian specialists, as well as about the participation of the Pridnestrovian delegation in the International Customs Forum in Moscow (dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Federal Customs Service). As a result of this event, an internship program was approved. The speaker spoke about the participation of representatives of the Pridnestrovian customs in the meetings of expert (working) groups in the framework of the negotiation process between Pridnestrovie and Moldova. He focused on the issue of compliance with executive discipline in the customs authorities. He reported about 23 internal investigations and 74 internal audits. The result – 35 identified violations and 17 disciplinary sanctions. The Chairman of the State Customs Committee noted in the report that the staffing of the customs authorities is 90%. It was noted as a negative factor that the system of higher professional education of the republic does not provide for the training of personnel for customs authorities.
Having completed the reporting part, the Head of the department expressed gratitude to the personnel for their work and outlined the main tasks for the current year. The activity plan of the State Customs Committee 2022 is formed on the basis of the provisions of the Development Strategy of Pridnestrovie.
Chairman of the Public Council on Customs Policy under the State Customs Committee Boris Kichuk acted as a co-rapporteur at the board meeting. He stated the constructivism and productivity of the dialogue that has been established between the customs authorities and the business community. The speaker outlined the topics that were raised at the council during the year, named the problems that were solved by joint efforts, and issues that remain relevant.
A representative of the Union of Industrialists, Agrarians and Entrepreneurs of Pridnestrovie, Yury Cheban, who, on behalf of big business gave a positive assessment of the activities of customs authorities, voiced a number of proposals aimed at its further improvement In the discussion part of the meeting,
Chairman of the Supreme Council of the PMR Alexander Korshunov focused on the correct, in his opinion, the attitude of customs officers towards entrepreneurs as initially conscientious. The Speaker of the Pridnestrovian Parliament spoke about the primacy of the advisory function of the state customs committee, against which the fiscal function fades into the background.
The PMR Prosecutor Anatoly Guretsky focused in his speech on the law enforcement activities of the State Customs Committee, noting some rough edges in the area of suppression of smuggling manifestations. He considers it necessary to intensify the work of the committee's operational units. The prosecution authorities will strengthen control of this direction for their part.
The PMR President after listening to all the speakers emphasized that the positive changes of recent years in the customs sector are visible to everyone. According to Vadim Krasnoselsky, the State Customs Committee has ceased to be an "irritating element". The President emphasized that the achievements of the customs authorities of Pridnestrovie are generally undeniable, focusing on the so-called human factor. Citing examples from the practice of the reporting year, Vadim Krasnoselsky said that customs as a state structure should provide comprehensive support to business entities - exporters and those who are ready to invest in the Pridnestrovian economy. The President set the task that. It is necessary to fight systemic violations, the head of the country emphasized it is necessary to assess the presence of intent and, in case of its absence, provide advisory assistance to the economic entity if signs of an offense are found on the part of entrepreneurs. In this regard, he focused on the problem of illegal export of sand and gravel mixture and wood from Pridnestrovie. Speaking about the law enforcement activities of the customs authorities, Vadim Krasnoselsky emphasized the expediency of its planning. It was instructed to provide an action plan to combat smuggling for 2022. Another document that will soon be drawn up and presented to the attention of the President is a consolidated list of works necessary to upgrade the customs infrastructure. Repair and equipping of checkpoints will be carried out at the expense of the Capital Investment Fund. It is planned to start in 2023.
Summing up, Vadim Krasnoselsky emphasized that attention should be given to the problematic aspects identified during the discussion. It is for timely detection and response that expanded departmental meetings are held, the President noted. In general, the work of the State Customs Committee of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic according to the end of 2021 was recognized as satisfactory. Vadim Krasnoselsky expressed his gratitude to the personnel, emphasizing that the vast majority of customs officers conscientiously fulfill their official duty.
