India highlights contactless, paperless customs reforms at WTO Geneva, drawing praise for tech-led trade facilitation.
India has showcased the scale and impact of its sweeping customs reforms at the World Trade Organization (WTO), underlining how a digital-first approach is reshaping border management and global trade facilitation.
At a special side event held in Geneva on the sidelines of the WTO Trade Facilitation Committee meeting, a high-level Indian delegation detailed how technology has transformed India’s customs ecosystem into one that is contactless, faceless, and paperless. The reforms were presented as a shift towards futuristic, efficient, and internationally aligned border procedures.
The event was led by Surjit Bhujabal, Special Secretary to the Government of India and Member (Customs). According to the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), which shared the highlights on its official X account, the session demonstrated how digital tools have replaced traditional, manual systems to create faster, more transparent trade processes.
The presentation emphasised India’s strategic move towards a digital-first mindset, with reforms expected to play a key role in the country’s upcoming Trade Policy Review at the WTO. Delegates were briefed on how these measures strengthen international cooperation while reducing compliance burdens for traders.
India also positioned its reforms within the broader philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. the belief that the world is one family, underscoring its commitment to global capacity building in customs and trade facilitation. Member countries reportedly welcomed India’s proactive sharing of technical expertise, digital solutions, and best practices.
Institutional capacity building emerged as a key highlight. The CBIC pointed to the state-of-the-art infrastructure of the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics (NACIN) and the global outreach initiatives of the Central Revenues Control Laboratory (CRCL) as benchmarks of excellence.
According to the board, India’s technology-driven learning and training ecosystem drew strong admiration and curiosity from trade delegates worldwide, reinforcing the country’s growing leadership role in modernising customs systems and advancing global trade facilitation.
Source: ANI
