DG TAXUD IT Monitoring and awareness Mission to the Republic of Macedonia

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• DG TAXUD IT Monitoring and awareness Mission to
  the Republic of Macedonia
• Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, November 19th,
  2008
• Dejan Rajcanovski
• Assistant Director, ICT

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MCA organization

• HQ 5 Customs Houses
• 1 ICT sector
• 1200 employees
• 41 Customs Offices (16 BCP 25 Inland terminals)

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Employees
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Personnel qualifications
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Employees leaving CARM
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IT History

• IT system Acycuda introduced on 1/1/1997, all
  declarations are processed electronically
• Majority of BCP and inland terminals are
  connected since 1998
• Administrative departments are using IT
  applications
• Legacy systems, technology not up to date

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IT Department roles

• Introduction, Maintenance and Development of ICT
  system
• Operational maintenance and ensuring proper
  utilization
• Preparation of manuals for usage of the system
• Provision of statistical data
• Support of end users in other units

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IT Priorities

• Modernize and integrate IT systems
• Achieve suitable level of modernization and basis
  for EU system interconnection
• Adopt EU best practices
• Start implementation of EU systems

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Basics

• Identify and cooperate with internal customers
• Outsourcing of everyday activities
• HR issues
• Achieve sustainable development
• Electronic Inter-Institutional and external
  cooperation

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Directions

• National Plan for Adoption of the EU Acquis
• Macedonian Customs Administration Strategic Plan
  2008 -2010
• EC Revised Customs Blueprints (2007)
• WCO Framework of Standards to Facilitate and
  Secure Global Trade

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Determination

• Implementation of Harmonized Customs Legislation
• Improvement of IT capacities
• Client-oriented approach
• Fight against corruption
• Cooperation with the business community

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IT strategy

• Linked with the Business Strategy of MCA
• Basis for annual Action Plan and Budget
• Based on 3 pillars
• Customs Declarations Processing System (CDPS)
• Administrative support systems
• Controls and investigations support system

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Action plan

• Annual action plan for implementation of the
  Strategy
• Planned together with Budget
• Budget programme ICT is introduced
• Annual Procurement Plan is based on Budget

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IT Sector

• Organization
• User/Application support
• Infrastructure and maintenance/Technical support
• Planning and development

Head of the ICT Sector
Application Support
Technical Support
Development and methodologies
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Project management

• Project structure is established

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HR and staffing

• Currently 22 of 48
• High turnover
• Training plan in place
• Everybody is involved in Projects

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Future activities

• CDPS implementation
• Customs Reform Project (IT component)
• DSRC ensuring business continuity
• Advanced Communication Network
• Upgrading network infrastructure
• Establishing backup links
• Implementing VOIP and Video conferencing
• PKI digital signature for all employees

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Completed Project Support to the Modernisation
of the Customs Service - EUCAFAO- MAC

• The Work Programme included the areas of
• Customs Procedures (harmonization of the
  legislation),
• Progress
• Drafting of legislation (legal, sub legal,
  operational) - Transit procedure NCTS Ready,
  completed by December 2007
• Consultancy on Simplified procedures and draft of
  changes of the Customs Code on Authorised
  Economic Operator - completed
• Visit of expert on Customs Laboratory, assessment
  and recommendations to establish Customs
  laboratory - delivered
• Assistance to access Data base on analytical
  methods of the EU Customs Laboratories (ILIADe)
  read only established

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Completed Project Support to the Modernisation
of the Customs Service - EUCAFAO- MAC

• Human Resources and Ethics
• Assistance and consultancy
• Integrity and fight against corruption, Strategy
  and
• Action Plan (adopted October 2007)
• Code of Conduct (adopted October 2007)
• IT interconnection and interoperability
• Progress IT equipment as back up system -
  delivered
• Programme for English language skills improvement
  completed

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Project TA for Drawing up Technical and User
Requirements for the Customs Declaration
Processing System (CDPS) (EU CARDS Funds)

• Project Purpose
• To support the reform process and enhance the
  operational efficiency by preparing the base for
  the tender documentation for the new CDPS.
• Specific Objective
• To prepare Detailed User and Technical
  Requirements of the new CDPS, based on an
  analysis of the system in use and the need for
  changes,
• Taking into consideration the current development
  of the reform process and the EU requirements for
  interoperability.
• The User Requirements and the Technical
  Requirements will ensure that the selected CDPS,
  preferably one used by EU MS, will meet the
  requirements of the national support of daily
  operations and will guarantee that the system
  will be capable of meeting the interconnectivity
  and EU interoperability obligations in the very
  near future.
• Status Finished

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Ongoing Procurement Support the Modernisation of
the Customs Service EUCAFAO- MAC (reallocation
of CARDS Funds Equipment)

• Laboratory Equipment and Training
• Information Technology equipment for Border
  Crossing Points- Video Monitoring Equipment and
  interpretation equipment
• Vehicles
• Control and Investigation Equipment
• Status Finished

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Ongoing Projects Single Window

• Harmonization of data, documents and procedures
  of all relevant institutions
• Selection of most appropriate Single Window model
  at National level
• Implementation of the model in order to
  facilitate trade by lodging standardized
  information and documents at a single point,
  making available standardized information to
  customs and other agencies by electronic means
• Status 1st phase implemented
• Progress
• Harmonization of data and Documents of the
  Institutions (first phase) completed
• Amendments to the National legislation drafted
  
• Procurement of ICT equipment for all
  participating Agencies completed national funds
  
• Installation of equipment under way
• Testing of Software solution and integration

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Ongoing Projects e-Gov Project - USAID

• Supporting the Single Window through the
  following activities
• Procurement of software application for issuing
  import-export licenses, Customs applications and
  quota system
• Provision of all the necessary financial and
  technical support for the creation, development
  and implementation of the specified software
  application and delivery of training
• Progress Implemented

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Ongoing Projects Business Environment Activity
Project- USAID

• Support to modernize and provide more efficient
  operations, especially the electronic processing
  of applications submitted online by the companies
  development of a Single Window Concept
• Collecting and classifying trade data
  requirements and procedures.
• Harmonization of export / import documents and
  data between agencies and uniform application of
  trade procedures.
• Foreign expert will provide advice with regard
  to
• the further simplification and streamlining of
  procedures,
• possible approach for continuation of the Single
  Window
• Progress Support on drafting national
  legislation
• Expert mission on development of the Third
  Component of the CARM IT System (March and May
  2008 completed )
• Regional Conference organized by WCO, Economic
  Faculty Skopje, USAID- BEA WCO Programme to
  Secure and Facilitate Global Trade (SAFE)-
  Challenges to the Region

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Ongoing Projects Export Control and Related
Border Security Programme (EXBS) (US Government)

• The main goal is to assist and support the
  Macedonian Law Enforcement Agencies
• in detecting and deterring illicit movement of
  weapons and weapons of mass destruction through
  donation of equipment and specialized training,
• promoting and supporting joint efforts and
  cooperation of the Border Police and the Customs
  Administration
• Progress 8 Trainings Delivered (Tracker System
  Implementation, WMD Threat
• management training, Train the Trainer,
  X-Ray Van Training)
• Delivered equipment and services
• Chemical-Radiation Detection Kit 30
  Level C chemical suit packages
• 15 Powered Air Purifying Respirator
  Kits
• Control/check and repair of enforcement
  equipment (CT-30) 
• Servicing of 13 portal monitors and
  re-installation of 1 portal monitor at
• Tabanovce BCP, repair of other inspection
  equipment   
• Planned 6 Training sessions (User Training on
  Donated Equipment, Illicit trafficking of
• nuclear materials, Railroad interdiction
  seminar, Target and Risk Management, Dual
  Use/Munitions Brokering)
• Donation of equipment IT equipment, X- ray Van
  and trainings

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Ongoing Projects Enhancing the Efficiency and
Promoting Institutional Capacity (Crown Agents)

• 85 operational activities identified to be
  undertaken during the two year Programme
• Activities are linked to agreed key performance
  indicators and relate to the following areas
  Risk Assessment Intelligence and Investigation
  Control and Investigation Units Development of
  inter-agency cooperation and Anti-Corruption
• Implementation of IT system for support of
  Control and Investigation units

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Ongoing Projects Cross-Border Trade Facilitation
Technical Assistance and Pilot Project (US
Government, US Trade and Development Agency)

• Aim - to demonstrate
• How customs and other border agencies can receive
  electronic data from SME,
• How data can be moved among themselves and later
  across the border
• Benefits of establishing a Single Window ICT
  system to fulfill all transit documentation
  requirements
• How the ICT solutions can improve the
  competitiveness of SMEs in the Region
• And possibly to become the core of a regional
  Single Window ICT solution or similar type of
  national Programme for the countries of
  Macedonia, Serbia and Bulgaria
• Status Finished

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Ongoing Projects Trade and Transport
Facilitation in Southeast Europe - II ( World
Bank)

• Objective to facilitate the movement of trade
  between the neighboring countries in South-East
  Europe, along the Trans-European Transport
  Corridor X, through removing infrastructural
  bottlenecks and improving the efficiency and
  quality of road and rail services along the
  territory of the Borrower
• Improvement of Passenger Border-Crossing at Blace
  
• Installation of Railways Communication System and
  its interconnection with the Customs IT
• Status Ongoing
• Progress Loan Agreement effective (November,
  2007)
• Preparation of Construction Bidding
  Documents
• Project Team established
• Working Group between MCA and MR
  establishing, ToR drafted

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Ongoing Projects Customs Reform Project (EU IPA
Funds 2007- Component I)

• Objective
• 1. Further alignment of customs legislation in
  the area of security amendments to the EC Customs
  Code in the area of Authorized Economic Operator
• Prepare to implement the EU Modernized Customs
  Code (in force from 2010)
• 2. Further strengthening of Border Controls
  (efficient and simplified customs clearance,
  fight against illicit drugs trafficking)
• 3. Improvement of the Customs IT Systems
  fulfilling EU interoperability requirements, data
  exchange enhancement
• Status Evaluation process - Short list completed
  (May, 2008)
• Expected start date ( September 2008)
• Progress Expert team completed drawing ToR
  (November 2007)
• Tender Published ( March 2008)

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Planned Project Customs Reform Project (EU IPA
Funds 2008- Component I)

• Objective
• Strengthening of the capacity of the Customs
  Administration
• To support the country in the process of
  fulfilling the EU pre-accession requirements,
  concerning the accession to the Common Transit
  Convention, including support to the
  implementation of the National Customs Transit
  System (NCTS) and Common Communication Network
  and Common System Interface (CCN/CSI).
• Project purpose
• Strengthening of the operational capacity of the
  CARM in accordance with the EU standards in core
  Customs business areas of the European Community
  Customs transit control
• to ensure full compatibility and interoperability
  of the CARM ICT system with the NCTS, and
• to achieve full interconnectivity with the
  European Union/DG TAXUD systems, enabling data
  exchange by means of the Common Communication
  Network and Common System Interface (CCN/CSI)
  infrastructure.
• Status Project Fiche submitted (March, 2008)
• Progress Government endorsed the Project

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• Thank you very much