Members of the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce met on Friday with officers from the Customs & Excise Division to discuss efficiency and other issues.

A statement from the Chamber says a focal point was the establishment of specific targeted standard operating procedures to help navigate the Customs and Excise processes more easily.

The Division has since committed to ensuring the successful implementation of these SOPs, within a specified time frame.

At the same time, it emphasized the importance of user compliance with customs procedures, namely the timely lodging documents, observing customs operating hours, adhering to notices about operational changes due to public safety, and understanding the procedures for processing both trade and non-trade shipments.

It also expressed its commitment to supporting stakeholders in understanding and complying with these necessary protocols.

Both also agreed on the need for greater transparency, the importance of understanding why certain issues occur, and the need for greater visibility and communication.

Present at the meeting from the Customs & Excise Division were Ag. Comptroller of Customs Riad Juman; Deputy Comptroller Corporate Services Savitri Ramjit; Ag. Deputy Comptroller Enforcement Bernard Nicholas; Ag. Assistant Comptroller Preventive & Tobago Dexter Robertson; and Ag. Assistant Comptroller Excise, Assessment, & Approved Undertakings Allan Mattook.

Representing the Chamber were: CEO Stephen De Gannes; Trade and Business Development Unit Manager Marc Sandy; and Trade and Business Development Unit Regulatory Affairs Monitoring Officer Kimberly Browne-Ali Bocas.