Mangalore: International Customs Day stresses on importance of communication

Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (DV)

Mangalore, Jan 27: On the occasion of International Customs Day, a grand function was organized at the New Customs House, Panambur here on Monday January 27. The theme of this year's celebration was 'Communication – Sharing Information for Better Co-operation'.

Prof Swapan Bhattacharya, director of NITK, Suratkal, was the chief guest and P P Upadhya, managing director of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MPRL) was the guest of honour. Subramanyam, commissioner of central excise was the special dignitary while D Purushotham, commissioner of customs presided over the function.

Addressing the gathering, Prof Swapan Bhattacharya said, "Mangalore is a lovely city and has good potential. People here are entrepreneurs, or it would not have been possible to have five banks start from here. These days parents are giving more importance to technology and less to communication. Technology is just a tool that supports communication. A person who cannot write in his mother tongue cannot write in a foreign language either."

Prof Bhattachara also released the in-house publication of New Custom House, 'Mangal Hans'.
 
P P Upadhya, MD of MRPL said, "Communication is very essential, we cannot survive without communication. We appreciate the role and responsibility of customs while dealing with the imports and exports of crude oil. It is essential to have good communication and cooperation with the customs. Sea route is very vast and without communication it is not possible to survive. A customs officer’s significant roles with lawfulness, promptness, transparency, better communication, cooperation is very essential."
 
On this occasion stakeholders, top importers, brokers, officers and retired officers were felicitated. Children of staff who won prizes in various competitions were distributed prizes.

D Purushotham, commissioner of customs in his welcome address said that communication, which is a key to success, is an important element in governance and in public administration. He said that this year's theme of International Customs Day - 'Communication – Sharing Information for Better Co-operation', aims to promote communication and information sharing within customs and with other government agencies, the trade community and the general public. He requested the trade to have a better communication with customs so that the mutual understanding bonds stronger, which helps in fighting against the transitional crimes and in protecting the revenue.

He requested to avail of all trade facilitations extended by the department and to contribute their best to augment the interest of revenue. Puroshottam expressed his confidence that the revenue would be achieved by such confident approach by the importers. He also inspired the officers of value based service with transparency and swiftness.

M Subramanya, commissioner of central excise, was present.