Tatjana Dinkić stressed that the work of this body will be proactive and based on the action plans and the work of the expert groups. For more efficient functioning, within the National Trade Facilitation body, four working groups were established:
1) For agriculture, sanitary and phytosanitary measures
2) For technical barriers in trade
3) For the customs system
4) For Implementation of measures for facilitating trade from international and regional trade agreements
Snežana Karanović, Assistant Director of the Customs Administration, pointed out that the basic goal of introducing the status of an Authorized Economic Operator is to identify potential issues as well as to seek solutions for improving customs procedures and make the business community more efficient.
Vladimir Ilić, Independent Advisor in the Department for Simplification of Procedure of the Customs Administration, explained in details the procedure for acquiring the status of Authorized Economic Operator, pointing out that this is a status rather than a simplification of the procedure. He added that the Authorized Economic Operator is the subject which is involved in the sale of goods and has received the approval of the national customs administration. It is defined as a business subject to whom the status of a reliable partner is granted, as it meets specific criteria.
After the presentation, the participants learned more details about the conditions, terms and advantages of this status in an intensive session of the questions and answers with representatives of the Customs Administration, moderated by Brankica Obućina from the USAID REG Project.
Representatives of member companies can contact AmCham at any time for help solving problems they encounter in foreign trade. The relevant AmCham working group is the Committee for Facilitation of Foreign Trade. Those interested can apply for work in professional groups by sending an email to Ana Milić at milic@amcham.rs or to Amalija Pavić pavic@amcham.rs.
