REPUBLIC OF TURKEY PRIME MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARIAT OF CUSTOMS

1
REPUBLIC OF TURKEYPRIME MINISTRYUNDERSECRETARIAT
OF CUSTOMS
Modernisation Project of Turkish Customs

• H. Cahit SOYSAL
• csoysal_at_gumruk.gov.tr

2
FACTORS AFFECTING CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATIONS

• Growth in Trade Volume
• Trade Liberalisation
• Improvements in Technology
• Falling Transport and Communications Costs
• Increasing International Competition

3
WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM CUSTOMS?

• Speed up the release of goods
• Rationalise the clearance of goods
• Simplify procedures
• Enhance customs control
• Create and transfer statistical data in a timely
  and reliable manner

4
MODERNISATION PROJECT OF TURKISH CUSTOMS

• Modernisation Project of Turkish Customs is a
  subcomponent of Public Financial Management
  Project (PFMP) that was signed in 1995 with World
  Bank in order to enable institutional reforms
  within Turkish Government
• IMF also provided technical assistance to the
  project
• During July 1996-May 1999 2 Long term, 6 short
  term advisors worked for Turkish Customs

5
FOCUS OF THE MODERNISATION PROJECT
Modification of customs legislation and
procedures to International Standards
Development and implementation of Computer systems
Reorganisation of customs administration
6
MODIFICATION OF CUSTOMS LEGISLATION
New Customs Law, comprised of 254 articles, was
discussed and passed from the Parliament
05.02.2000
New customs procedures were determined for the
computerized customs offices
Customs Regulation, comprised of 891 articles
and 81 appendices came into force
27.10.1999
11.02.1999
7
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPUTER
SYSTEMS
A software called BILGE
(BILgisayarli Gümrük Etkinlikleri) (Computerized
Customs Activities) has been developed and by the
end of October 2001, 18 Regional Directorates
and 47 Customs Directorates will be automated
8
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPUTER
SYSTEMS
9
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPUTER
SYSTEMS
The current rate of automated customs
transactions and the estimated rate of customs
transactions at the end of this year
10
REORGANISATION OF TURKISH CUSTOMS

• In order to flatten the organisation and become
  more efficient
• 120 customs directorates were either merged or
  closed down
• The functions of Regional Directorate of Customs
  and
• Directorate of Customs Enforcement have been
  united to
• increase service efficiency in 5 regions

11
LESSONS LEARNT (I)

• Never think of an organisation as a large machine
• that can be taken apart and reassembled
  differently
• whenever needed!
• Changes must be approached carefully with
• implications for both individuals and groups
  within
• the organisation

12
LESSONS LEARNT (II)
Commitment of Top Management Assignment of A
Project Leader

• It is important to establish a Steering
  Committee to prove the support of top management
• A chief executive should be assigned as the
  project manager and must have the power and
  authority needed to make the changes happen

13
LESSONS LEARNT (III)
Commitment of Top Management Assignment of A
Project Leader
14
LESSONS LEARNT (IV)
Management of Change and Time Plan

• It may be necessary to establish a permanent
  Project Unit with sufficient resources and must
  not be interrupted by daily operations
• Change must be planned by developing an action
  plan

15
LESSONS LEARNT (V)
Communication and Training

• Change presents unknowns that cause anxiety
• Communication with stakeholders is a very
  crucial
• feature for avoiding ambiguity-Do it as early as
  possible!
• A Strategic Statement was very helpful in
  communicating
• the reasons and objectives of change to our
  stakeholders
• Customs Consultative Committee also provided
• participation from trade bodies to our
  Project

16
LESSONS LEARNT (VI)
Communication and Training

• Adapting new technology means
• carrying out procedures in a totally
• new way which may cause fear
• The fear of new technology can be
• eliminated by intensive training
• programmes

17
LESSONS LEARNT (VII)
Confidence

• Those who have power in the current situation
  may resist change since it threatens their power
• Be confident about yourself and do not step back
  in case of any threat!

No Change!
18
LESSONS LEARNT (VIII)
Confidence
19
MONITORING REINFORCEMENT

• It is very important to check after a suitable
  time to see if
• the changes are working well or not
• If something is going wrong, modifications must
  be made
• On the other hand if changes are working well
  and the
• benefits can be demonstrated use this
  information to tell
• everyone to reinforce the transition

20
CHALLENGES

• Implementation of e-commerce technologies will
• require more resources and expertise
• E-commerce and the implementation of Just in
  Time techniques will increase the number of
  transactions
• Adapting e-commerce technology always hold the
• possibility of cyber crime, sabotage and loss of
  system accidentally

21
Thank you very much for your attention
www.gumruk.gov.tr