The Department of Customs & Central Excise held a Training of Trainers programme in Aurangabad Customs and Central Excise Commissionerate on 8th and 9th October. 44 Officers from 16 Inland Container Depots (ICDs) operating in Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh were imparted this training. The training is a prelude to implementation of the Customs EDI system (ICES) in the ICDs. The EDI system will enable Importers and Exporters to electronically file their import and export declarations from their office. They will be able to receive custom assessment decisions on email and will be able to make e-payment of Customs Duty without going to custom office or to the bank.

The Customs EDI system electronically links a large number of agencies involved in cargo clearance including importers and exporters, banks, DGFT, Shipping lines and Airlines, custodians etc. The EDI system will not only enable faster customs clearance but will also help reduce dwell time of cargo and transaction costs for the importer. This will also contribute to the local industry’s level of competitiveness, both nationally and internationally. The system is likely to go live in Aurangabad in December 2009.

Shri B. K. Gupta, Member CBEC visited the Commissionerate on 13th March 2009. The Member reviewed the revenue position of the Commissionerate and of various key result area. The review meeting was attended by Shri. K. L. Bablani, Chief Commissioner, Nagpur  Zone, Shri Arun Sahu, Commissioner, Aurangabad , Shri S Ramesh , Commissioner, Nagpur, Shri. K. P. Mishra, Additional Commissioner, Shri. CH Venkat Reddy, Joint Commissioner, Central Excise Aurangabad, Shri P. A. Vasave , Joint Commissioner and  Shri Shailesh Kumar , Joint Commissioner , Central Excise Nashik.

'Central Excise Day’ was celebrated on 24th Feb 2009, the inauguration of the function was made by Chief Guest Shri. K.L.Bishnoi, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Aurangabad.

"International Customs Day, 2009" was celebrated on 27/1/2009 in this Commissionerate. On this occasion a Seminar on this year's theme i.e. "Customs and Environment - Protecting our Natural Heritage" was held . Sh. Sarvesh Kumar Agrawal, Chief Conservator of Forest, Aurangabad was the Chief Guest of the function. Other dignitaries include Prof. M. B. Mule, Head of Environment Deptt., Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University.

Commissioner Shri. Arun Sahu, is the Chairperson of the Information Management Sub Committee since June 2006. He has recently chaired 56th Session of Information Management Sub-Committee of WCO in Brussels from 19 Jan to 23rd Jan, 2009. He has contributed papers on Helpdesk Management in Customs in an internet based environment and Outsourcing in customs – the Indian Experience which have been included in chapter VII of the Revised Kyoto Convention Guidelines.