Seventeen Customs officials were awarded WCO Certificates of Merit: he is one of them.
Indian Customs celebrated Investiture ceremony and Annual International Customs Day (ICD) celebration. The event was organised by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs which was held at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, Janpath in New Delhi on 27th January, 2020.
World Customs Organization (WCO) Certificates of Merit Award were also presented to the distinguished officers of the CBIC. Rajan Chaudhary, Commissioner of Customs Chennai Airport was awarded Certificate of merit for commitment and rendering exceptional service. There were 18 winners of Certificate of Merit and Rajan Chaudhary, was one of the top winners. The certificate of Merit Issued by World Customs Organisation. It was awarded by honourable Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Singh Thakur in presence of top officials on the stage.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was Chief guest of the event but due to some
last minute important meeting, she could not attend the event. Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Singh Thakur was the Guest of Honour. Revenue Secretary Dr. Ajay Bhushan Pandey and Dr. John Joseph Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), along with Members of Central of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, senior officers of the Department were also present.
Union Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur has expressed confidence that with concerted efforts of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), India would further improve its position in ranking for Ease of Doing Business. While addressing at Investiture Ceremony & International Customs Day 2020 here today, Shri Thakur said that India has risen in the Ease of Doing Business Rankings by being transparent, accountable and logical. This rise in rankings is due to the efforts of the officers of CBIC as Trading Across Borders is one of the key parameter of the rankings and it is credit to the efforts of CBIC that this key parameter has performed.
Shri Thakur appreciated the response of Custom officials to dynamics of changing ecosystem worldwide. Customs are doing well because they work as a team besides adapting and evolving, especially in a large and diverse country like India.
Certificate of Merit
Dr. Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Revenue Secretary, also spoke about the thrust on enhancing trade facilitation and the role of other stakeholders including participating government agencies. Revenue Secretary emphasized on use of technology in ensuring Ease of Doing Business.
Dr. John Joseph, Chairman CBIC, while congratulating the awardees highlighted recent key initiatives taken by the Customs for enhancing trade facilitation in line with the Action Plan for implementing the Trade Facilitation Agreement of the WTO ratified by India. He also complimented the officers for their dedicated work especially in the area of preventing smuggling of environmentally sensitive items, flora and fauna. Chairman CBIC said that officers of CBIC are fully committed towards hassle free trade and taking India to newer heights in Ease of Doing Business rankings.
Rajan Chaudhary, Commissioner of Customs – Chennai Airport, speaking to Mumbai Messenger said “I am truly honored to receive this certificate, it is a greater honor to be placed in such distinguished manner. It is a team effort that I could crack smuggling rackets at Chennai airport. This award particularly recognizes my work and it gives an amazing feeling of getting awarded for the efforts that I put in. This award improves my self-confidence. It also gives the more responsibilities of further work”.
It may be noted that International Customs Day celebrated all over the world by Customs department. The Customs community comes together, united in celebrating International Customs Day, officially it falls on 26 January of each year. This special day enables WCO Members, the WCO Secretariat and Customs’ worldwide partners to dedicate themselves to taking forward a particular theme.
Shri O. P. Dadhich, Principal Chief Commissioner of Customs Delhi Zone presented the vote of thanks.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
