Working together to overcome difficulties for businesses.

Việt Nam•07/06/2024

With the motto "The business community and the Customs agency are reliable partners, working together for development," the Customs sector has continuously innovated its management methods and reformed administrative procedures to facilitate import and export activities, contributing to the province's economic development.

To better understand the difficulties and obstacles faced by businesses, and to find solutions to help them overcome these challenges, the Ha Nam Ninh Customs Department organizes direct dialogues annually. Furthermore, although the Customs sector has made many efforts in administrative procedure reform in recent years, practical experience at the grassroots level has revealed obstacles requiring direct support and resolution from specialized agencies. Therefore, organizing these dialogues also provides an opportunity for the Customs sector and businesses to share information, discuss appropriate cooperation mechanisms, and create a transparent and favorable environment for import and export activities.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Anh, Head of Import-Export Department, Bao Linh Joint Stock Company, said that although the garment export market this year shows signs of improvement, it is still subject to many external impacts from the global economic and political situation. In addition, policy changes have led to concerns and difficulties for businesses regarding the selection and use of customs declaration and clearance services; overcoming common risks when declaring incorrect names of exporters and importers; incorrect declaration of goods types; importing goods that do not meet tax exemption conditions; regulations on notifying the reprocessing of parts of the production and export process, etc.

Hundreds of businesses participated in the direct dialogues organized by the Customs sector, demonstrating their interest in issues related to customs work and import/export procedures. Many business opinions on resolving difficulties in mechanisms and policies were discussed right in the meeting hall. The Customs sector and related units were ready to listen and promptly provide thorough answers to businesses' questions.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tinh, from the Import-Export Department of Minh Tam Import-Export Joint Stock Company, shared: "Attending the business-customs dialogue conference, I raised questions about customs clearance procedures for my company's goods and received enthusiastic, responsible, and satisfactory answers from the leaders of the Ha Nam Ninh Customs Department. This not only helps businesses understand and update new customs policies and laws but also helps them overcome difficulties and obstacles arising during customs procedures, as well as encouraging businesses to strive harder in their production, business, and import-export activities."

To provide substantial and sustainable support to businesses, a key aspect mentioned in the "Customs Development Strategy for the period 2021-2030" is the development of a digital and smart customs model that is modern, professional, and aligned with global liberalization trends; applying the achievements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution from developed countries' customs systems; and meeting the requirements of administrative reform and modernization towards building a digital government and e-government. The digital and smart customs system will allow businesses to declare customs procedures anytime, anywhere, and on any platform. This has facilitated faster and more convenient customs clearance times and reduced logistics costs. Businesses have been able to use free declaration software provided by the Customs authorities and only need to declare goods information once to complete multiple administrative procedures through the national single window system. Throughout the customs clearance process, businesses can easily track the processing progress of state management agencies in the supply chain, ensuring transparency, openness, and convenience.

Ms. Nguyen Thu Nhieu, Director of the Ha Nam Ninh Customs Department, stated: Following the government's motto: "Putting the people and businesses at the center of service," and in the spirit of accompanying, listening to, and sharing with businesses to overcome difficulties and challenges together, the Ha Nam Ninh Customs Department has always strived to promote administrative reform to facilitate import and export activities. Customs clearance and goods release times have been significantly reduced compared to before. The time from receiving the export declaration to making the customs clearance decision has decreased by 1 hour and 28 minutes.

Currently, the Ha Nam Ninh Customs Department is conducting over 1,000 administrative procedures under its management and has provided full online public services, allowing businesses to submit applications and receive results online via the Internet. The electronic processing of administrative management, updating declarations and data, and transmitting information fully and promptly ensures data utilization and supports risk management within the sector. At the Ninh Binh Customs Branch, approximately 200 businesses are processing procedures, all through the online public service system, with 100% of applications processed on time. Applications are received, processed, and stored in accordance with regulations.

Thus, with the increased application of information technology, the modernization of the Customs sector has greatly supported businesses in boosting production and business, especially with the volume of import and export goods showing positive signs of recovery from the beginning of the year to date. Specifically for Ninh Binh province, in the context of a still unpredictable global economic situation and declining demand in many major markets, thanks to the efforts of businesses in improving the efficiency of exploiting traditional markets and new, potential markets, the total export turnover of Ninh Binh province in the first five months of the year reached 1,390 million USD, an increase of 10.2% compared to the same period last year. Export items showing significant increases compared to the same period include: electronic components (up 43%); embroidery (up 45%); optical glass (up 33.2%); and various types of automotive parts and components (up 78.4%). Children's toys increased 2.8 times… Along with that, total import turnover in the first 5 months of the year reached over 1,214.9 million USD, an increase of 7.3% compared to the same period, focusing on product groups such as: electronic components, automotive parts and accessories, footwear manufacturing materials, textiles, machinery and equipment… With the booming export market, businesses have been better able to fulfill their obligations to the State budget.

Ms. Nguyen Thu Nhieu, Director of the Ha Nam Ninh Customs Department, added: Towards building a smart customs system and implementing digital transformation, the Ha Nam Ninh Customs Department continues to strive to improve its infrastructure and equipment to ensure a smooth and highly secure network system, and to train and upgrade its workforce to meet the requirements and tasks in the new situation. At the same time, it continues to develop customs-business partnerships to answer questions, disseminate new regulations, mechanisms, and policies related to administrative procedures, and identify difficulties and obstacles arising in practice to address them promptly, with the spirit of completing tasks rather than just working until the end of the workday.

With the goal of accompanying and being a reliable partner of businesses, the Customs sector is continuing its efforts in administrative reform, further supporting businesses in shortening customs clearance time, facilitating trade and goods clearance, and contributing to the socio-economic growth of the province.

Nguyen Thom

Source