Shortage of brokers a concern

By GLORIA BAUAI
PAPUA New Guinea Customs chief commissioner David Towe has confirmed a shortage of licensed brokers in the trading industry.
According to Towe, only a licensed broker can access the Customs web-based Asykuda world system to log a declaration on behalf of a trader for imports and exports to take place.
He said currently, PNG had less than 400 licensed brokers and the industry had communicated the need for more brokers. “There’s been a shortage of brokers because some have retired, some have been blocked off for non-compliance and also because we’ve not had a training of brokers for quite some time now,” Towe said.
Towe said Customs had seen the need and will be hosting a six-week broker training soon.
“The process to get brokers will start with an advert and a normal screening and selection process for training,” he said.
“Those selected will undergo six weeks of training and sit for exams.
“Only those who pass with over 80 per cent will be issued a certificate and must put up a bank guarantee of at least K20,000 to secure revenue; only then will they be a certified broker.
“Once certified, they must comply or their licence will be cancelled for non-compliance.
“Their role as brokers or agents, the go-between Customs and the trading community is to declare or provide information like the commodity code, values and the port of origin on behalf of the trader; this declaration when accepted by the system, will be assessed and a tax notice be issued.
“Once the trader pays the assigned tax, a receipt is issued and their consignment cleared.
“So Customs brokers are very important part of the business,” he said.