Customs officials satisfied with performance contracts

Customs officers have expressed satisfaction than economic operators, over the 20th ceremony of assessment of performance contracts.

The assessment was held on Tuesday, September 28 and chaired by Minette Libom li Likeng, the Director General of Customs.

For example, firms under contract witnessed the deadline of Customs clearance of certain goods move from 17 days to 11 days and others from 13 to 11 days. For the Director of Customs, the assessment of performance contracts is a dynamic approach and on which inspectors are called upon to face with unexpected events such as congestion, system failures, etc.

That said, this is a strategy that works and encouraging results are recorded: over 25 containers are out of the port in less than seven days because some operators come to clear their goods as anticipated. However, some still have problems, and the customs administration is responsible for assisting.

During the ceremony on Tuesday, inspectors who achieved the best performance at the end of the June-July-August 2015 quarter, as well as some companies received awards and bonuses. Since the inception of performance contracts, said an official source, customs revenues are encouraging. 693 billion FCFA of customs revenue is expected for 2015.

For the first quarter (first figures available), 347 billion FCFA has been collected on the forecast of 345 billion, representing a rate of realization of 101%. There is, in addition, the facilitation of Customs clearance operations; a struggle increased against fraud and bad practices, a healthy relationship between customs and businesses, etc.