PM Says Georgia Will Have a New Customs Code Next Year
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Wednesday, December 12
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has stated that Georgia will have a European-standard customs code next year.
Bakhtadze claims that the new code will allow for the country's more effective integration into the global economy.
He stated that Georgia's current customs and tax codes have failed to fulfill relevant goals and tasks.
The new customs code was developed on a so-called open platform enabling all stakeholders to participate and the process involved active engagement from entrepreneurs, Bakhtadze said.
"Our vision is to turn Georgia into the entire region's economic hub. Accordingly, a customs code based on digital technology and maximally taking into account users' interests is a significant precondition for achieving this goal. The new customs code is in full compliance with EU standards, which will enable us to make better use free trade with the EU.
“New registration rules and declaration forms will be far more simplified, the interests of entrepreneurs will be taken into account to the maximal degree in customs-related decision-making, and new types of guarantees and many other innovations will be introduced to make a tremendous difference in the quality of our customs code," Bakhtadze said.
Earlier Georgian Finance Minister Ivane Machavariani stated that the code offers “very important news” which will make customs procedures particularly simplified, in particular:
New, simpler rules of import resignation and declaration forms will be established.
The interests of entrepreneurs will be maximally considered in the process of making a decision at the customs’ facility.
Taking a type of business into account, a new form of guarantee [bail] will be used.
Preconditions will be created for a business to enjoy simplified customs procedures in the EU and other countries.
All positive changes will be maintained which have been provided through the reforms in the customs field so far: the taxpayer’s unified card (tax and customs), uniform Treasury Code for tax/customs obligation, uniform system of complaint and tax agreement.
