Minister of Trade Mehmet Mus stated that 2021 was the year in which significant progress and historical achievements were recorded in Turkey’s exports and said, “Last year, Turkey’s exports increased by 32.9% compared to the previous year and reached $225.4 billion. For the first time in our history, our share of global exports exceeded 1%.”
Trade Minister Mus attended the ‘World Customs Day Celebration Program and World Customs Organization Certificate of Merit Presentation Ceremony’ held at the ministry.
Mus stated that they did not remain indifferent to the global digital transformation in customs and took all necessary steps. Stating that as the Ministry, they continue to work with the aim of making Turkey more recognized as ‘the country where trade is done in the easiest and safest’, Mus said, “Despite all the negativities brought by the global Covid-19 epidemic, as the ministry, we strive to use all our policy tools effectively to ensure the smooth functioning of international trade. As a matter of fact, 2021 has been a year in which significant progress and historical achievements were recorded in Turkey’s exports. Last year, Turkey’s exports increased by 32.9% compared to the previous year and reached $225.4 billion, and for the first time in our history, our share of global exports exceeded 1%.”
‘WE ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPACITY OF CUSTOMS’
Minister Mus said that the number of export declarations processed in customs administrations in 2021 exceeded 5 million 167 thousand, and the transactions of approximately 8.1 million vehicles and 62 million passengers were completed. Stating that they are making efforts to improve the physical infrastructure and technical capacity of the customs, Mus said, “We are continuing our digitalization efforts at our customs by making technology investments in order to provide the highest level of service possible, with the aim of simplifying customs procedures and reducing bureaucracy and paperwork. Within the framework of the Common Transit Regime with the European Union, the transports within the scope of the authorized sender, which enables the customs procedures to be completed quickly, were increased from 1% to 10%. Again, with the export-oriented authorized sender system, which we put into operation this year, we aim to deliver the export cargo to target markets with a faster and higher quality logistics presentation. In addition, with the application of easy export points, the way of completing the customs procedures of the goods at a single point has been paved. At this point, I would also like to emphasize that our paperless customs work will continue to include import declarations after export declarations.”
‘OUR FIGHT AGAINST SMUGGLING CONTINUES’
Minister Mus stated that the fight against smuggling at customs continues with determination, “We increased the number of vehicle and container scanning systems in our inventory to 74 in 2021 in order to quickly detect smuggling attempts at our border gates. We see the results of these projects we have realized and the investments we have made on the field. As a result of the anti-smuggling activities carried out by our customs enforcement teams, smuggled goods worth ₺7.8 billion were seized in 2021. Our administrative and technical capacity has been increased in the fight against smuggling of fuel, tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, which cause serious losses in our tax revenues. In the works carried out by our Fuel Special team in 2021, ₺5.5 billion worth of tax losses and ₺14 billion worth of fake invoices were detected. On the other hand, as a result of the operations carried out within the scope of the fight against smuggling, many different items were seized this year, which can be expressed in tons and millions.”
Source: Sabah / Translated by Irem Yildiz