1. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) • Electronic data interchange aims at single point collection of data for use by various agencies participating in a common activity • EDI provides an excellent example of a working electronic commerce environment and is a good starting point for examining electronic commerce

2. Indian Customs EDI System (ICES) ICES - Indian Customs EDI System is exchange of pre-defined business information electronically between business partners (Importers, Exporters), Intermediaries (CHA), Government Agencies (DGFT,RBI), Other Agencies like AEPC, Carriers (Vessel, Airlines), Custodians (Port Trust, IAAI and CFS)

3. Objectives of Indian Customs EDI System • Respond more quickly to the needs of the trade • Computerisation of customs related functions • Reduce interaction of the trade with Government Agencies • Provide retrieval of information from other customs locations to have uniformity in assessment and valuation

4. Objectives of Indian Customs EDI System • Provide MIS for policy making and its effective revenue and pendency monitoring • Provide quick and correct information on import / export statistics to DG of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics.

5. Salient Features of Indian Customs EDI System • Pre-defined business information (Invoice, Purchase Order, Bills of Entry, Bills of Lading would be transacted in EDI • Structured formats of information (EDI documents) • Exchange of information takes place electronically between two unrelated computer systems

6. Salient Features of Indian Customs EDI System • Acknowledged receipts • Legally valid transactions • ICES/E is for processing Export documents- It consists of S.C, A.C, Examination, P.O, IGM, Duty Drawback and MIS Modules • ICES/I is for processing Import documents- It consists of IGM, S.C, Appraising, Superintendent, Asst. Commr, Cash, Examination and MIS Modules