Japan last week proposed that Cambodia replaces its current customs administration system, ASYCUDA, with Japan-made NACCS.
The Automated System for Customs Data, or ASYCUDA, and the Nippon Automated Cargo Clearance System, NACC, are both computerised systems designed to administer a country’s customs.
Atsuhiko Fujishige, an adviser on customs to the Japanese Ministry of Finance, suggested the idea of switching to NACC during a meeting last week with Aun Pornmoniroth, the Cambodian Minister of Economy and Finance.
Mr Fujishige, who was in Phnom Penh leading a delegation of Japanese customs officials, said Cambodia has notably improved customs administration in the last few years, but that there was still room for improvement.
He said the Japanese government is willing to assist Cambodia in making the switch to NACC, which, he said, would make customs administration much more efficient.
The Cambodian minister welcomed the suggestion and said the government will consider it, but argued that adopting a new system will be a complicated endeavour since Cambodia has been using ASYCUDA for nearly 10 years.