Events

 
 
 

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Head of the Federal Customs Service of Russia Andrei Belyaninov

 
 
 

Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: Mr Belyaninov, my first question is about tax collection. Please, tell me how this work is proceeding?

Andrei Belyaninov: Mr Putin, the collection target for customs duties set for the Russian Customs Service is 4 trillion roubles.

Vladimir Putin: Has it been revised upward?

Andrei Belyaninov: It was revised recently up to the figure 4.611 billion roubles. The increase is largely due to growing oil and natural gas prices. As of today, we have collected 1.9 trillion roubles. We are exceeding even the revised target. The target is quite high, but I think we will meet it by improving customs administration in collecting import duties. A lot of goods are imported into the country - machines and equipment - and all these are dutiable goods. On a wide range of machines and equipment, customs duties have been set at zero, which of course will have an impact on the development of the industrial potential.

Vladimir Putin: So, customs officials feel the decisions in the tax sphere are making a difference?

Andrei Belyaninov: They are beginning to work because the amount of equipment imported has increased dramatically. Obviously the returns on the equipment will begin to be felt at the end of this year and the beginning of the next year. But that of course is not the task of the customs service. However, it all passes through us; we administer all this.

Vladimir Putin: You know that the International Economic Forum has opened in St Petersburg today. How are your relationships developing with your counterparts, most importantly in the CIS?

Andrei Belyaninov: The main goal we adopted was to streamline the regulatory framework for the purpose of creating a Customs Union with Belarus, and now also with Kazakhstan. As we see it, the doors of the Customs Union are open. Other CIS countries may be admitted provided they comply with certain conditions that are acceptable for all the members of the Union.

Just yesterday we finished a meeting with customs services officials of the CIS countries. Representatives of eight countries were present. We noted that work to harmonize the legal framework was proceeding smoothly. Of course it takes both time and effort. One question of principle that was resolved yesterday was the creation of a committee to coordinate the process for customs violations. This is how we will respond to contraband, something customs people have to deal with. A common concern is drug trafficking, its routes pass not only through Russia, but through many CIS countries. This prompted the creation of the Committee. The Committee's regulations have been approved. I think through coordination we will make that work more effective.

Vladimir Putin: What CIS countries are still not involved in this work?

Andrei Belyaninov: Georgia and Turkmenistan were absent from the meeting. Other countries were represented either by the heads or deputy heads. Uzbekistan was represented at the level of experts.

Vladimir Putin: Are you in contact regarding these issues with the colleagues who did not attend this time?

Andrei Belyaninov: I recently went to Turkmenistan where we discussed the coordination of work in the sphere of customs violations. We met with understanding on the part of our Turkmen colleagues. They are also worried about drug trafficking which apparently passes through their territory too. In any case, coordination of the work in this area will help us to gain an insight into the problem. But of course this scourge has not spared any country.

Vladimir Putin: And the last question is the wages of customs workers and indexation of the increases made last year. What is the situation there?

Andrei Belyaninov: In September last year the Government decided to pay lump sum bonuses to the best customs workers. That also covered the Tax Service and the staff of the Russian Financial Monitoring Committee.

Vladimir Putin: And the Customs.

Andrei Belyaninov: Yes, and the Customs, of course. That move gave customs people confidence that they will have decent wages in accordance with the job they are doing. All our colleagues have made a note of it.

However, that increase has not yet been adjusted for inflation which obviously affects our economy. So we would like the Finance Ministry and the Government to take our wish into account.

Vladimir Putin: What sum are we talking about?

Andrei Belyaninov: We have asked for 5.5 billion roubles.

Адрес страницы в сети интернет: http://archive.government.ru/eng/docs/1441/