Cambodia Best Trader Membership Application : customs.gov.kh

Organization : General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia
Facility : Best Trader Membership Application
Country : Cambodia
Website : https://www.customs.gov.kh/en/customs-procedures/353-best-traders?ref=714

What is Best Traders?

The incentive schemes offered to high compliant traders, known as the Best Trader Incentive Mechanism (BTIM), is a program that is part of a broader trade facilitation policy of the Royal Government of Cambodia. This program first came into effect on 23rd June 2014 at the certification ceremony for the members of the Best Traders Group at the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia.

Related / Similar Facility : Cambodia Qualified Investment Project

As of April 2021, 43 companies have been recognized by the GDCE as member of the Best Traders Group. As a way forward, the GDCE is considering selecting more companies to become part of this program with the view to fully implement the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program as stipulated in the Strategy for Customs Reforms and Modernization (SCRM) 2019-2023.

Best Trader Selection Criterions

To be considered eligible for the program, a trader or relevant person must:
** be ranked 1st in the Trade Credibility Management System (TCMS) at the time of application;
** be a legal person with not less than 1 billion KHR registered capital;
** never have committed serious customs offences within the past three years from the date of application;
** never failed to repay customs debt beyond deadline or defaulted any other debt;
** fulfill the obligation regarding the recordkeeping of documents, accounting books, records, and other information related to import-export activities in accordance with existing laws and regulations;
** be a member of any authorized business community and must be certified by the chair of the said community in regard to the financial status and compliance status of the trader; and
** have an annual trade volume of not less than 2 million USD and complete any report as deemed necessary by the Best Trader Management Unit of the GDCE.

Best Trader Incentive Package

Members of the Best Traders Group are eligible to a number of facilitative treatments such as:
** Prioritized queuing during the time of declaration lodgment, documentary check, physical inspection, payment, and other procedures without having to follow first-in first-out principle
** Documents deferment without having to submit the guarantee of 20% of the value of the goods imported provided that the goods are:
** Not listed under the prohibited and restricted list of goods stipulated in the existing regulation or
** Listed under the prohibited and restricted list of goods stipulated in the existing regulation under the condition that the goods have been authorized for importation by relevant authority.
** Exemption of advance verification of customs valuation and certificate of origin
** For Qualified Investment Project (QIP), traders can request for customs import permit directly at the customs office of importation, and the stock management can be self-managed.
** Such traders are required to carry out stock management with the Department of Customs Procedures at the GDCE only once at the end of every month.
** Exemption from having to carry with the goods transport permit and the requirement to have customs seal posted on goods upon the arrival at business premise
** Pre-arrival clearance procedure
** Destination clearance at customs bonded warehouse and temporary storage premise with national transit request carried out at the office of entrance without having to obtain permission from the GDCE
** Eligibility to lodge export declaration at the closest customs and excise office and having the lodgment processed and consignment inspected by officers of the said office at the trader’s premise except cases not permitted by risk
** Exemption from the requirement to obtain advance permission from the GDCE for re-exportation or re-importation procedure.

How To Apply For Best Trader Membership?

Qualified traders wishing to become a member of the Best Traders Groups shall submit the application to the GDCE with the following documents attached:
** Certificate of Business Registration and Company’s Bylaw and list of shareholders as of the date of application
** Financial Statement for the last two years (if required)
** Compliance Letter issued by concerned business community
** VAT Certificate and/or Patent Certificate or similar certificate
** A copy of ID card or similar document of the company’s management
** Trade volume of import-export and sale in the past year
** Manufacturing and documentation process diagram
** Term and Document Checklist 01 Copy
** Application Request Letter 01 Copy
** Letter of Certification and Guarantee 01 Copy
** Letter of Authorization for company’s representative 01 Copy
** List of authorized employees 01 Copy
** Cambodian National ID