CBIC commemorates 10 years of India’s Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme; Outlines way forward and reaffirms commitment to trusted trade
GST
Dated:- 16-9-2026
AEO Programme is pivotal in transforming India's customs administration into a modern, trusted and facilitative system aligned with the World Customs Organisation's SAFE Framework of Standards: CBIC Chairman
CBIC Member (Customs) noted transformation of Customs from a transaction-centric approach to a risk-based and trust-oriented model of administration since the introduction of the current AEO framework
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) today celebrated a decade of India's Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme with a commemorative event titled “AEO@10: Accelerating Growth, Enhancing Trust, Optimizing Trade” in New Delhi.
The event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, logistics stakeholders, WCO experts and Authorised Economic Operators to reflect on the p
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eholder-centric reforms, the Chairman announced the launch of a structured feedback response form on the AEO portal to enable continuous and systematic inputs from AEO entities and other stakeholders.
Drawing on Pillar 2 of the WCO SAFE Framework and the CBIC Citizens' Charter, he emphasised that trade is an equal partner in building a trusted ecosystem and that feedback must be continuous. He also referred to the Eligible Manufacturer Importer (EMI) Scheme, highlighted by the Union Finance Minister's in the Union Budget speech, as an important stepping stone that rewards early compliance and creates a natural pathway to higher AEO tiers.
In his address, Member (Customs), CBIC, recalled the transformation of Customs from a transaction-centric approach to a risk-based and trust-oriented model of administration since the introduction of the current AEO framework through Circular No. 33/2016-Customs. He underlined that voluntary compliance promotes good governance, reduces supply-ch
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26-Customs dated 3rd September 2026, bringing down the documents to be uploaded from ten to three, with effect from 15th September 2026.
The event marked the launch of the commemorative publication “A Decade of AEO in India: Celebrating Trusted Trade Partnerships”, documenting the evolution, milestones and impact of India's AEO Programme over the past ten years, and incorporating contributions from CBIC officers, international partners, trade and industry. A stakeholder feedback survey on the AEO Programme was also announced to obtain structured inputs from industry for guiding future reforms. In addition, new AEO certificates were presented to select businesses, recognising their commitment to secure and compliant international trade.
In her welcome address earlier, Dr. Kavita Bhatnagar, Principal Commissioner and National AEO Programme Manager, highlighted the remarkable growth of the programme since its inception and emphasised the importance of continued collaboration between
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