Using business satisfaction to evaluate the performance of Customs agencies

Photos at the Forum. (Photo: HP)

On September 10, in Hanoi , the 2024 Customs - Business Forum took place with the theme: "10 years of developing Customs - Business partnership" organized by Customs Magazine and the Customs Modernization Reform Board on September 10, 2024 on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam Customs (September 10, 1945 - September 10, 2024).

At the Forum, Director General of the General Department of Customs Nguyen Van Tho emphasized that currently, Vietnam Customs is implementing the Customs Development Strategy to 2030 according to the Prime Minister's approval decision; which includes the goal: "Improving the quality of service for people and businesses in customs procedures and customs management. Facilitating legal cross-border trade, tourism and transportation activities, creating a transparent and fair import-export environment, contributing to improving national competitiveness" and "developing cooperative and partnership relations between Customs and relevant parties to create a foundation and contribute to improving the effectiveness of State management of Customs".

In the coming time, the Customs sector will continue to focus resources on developing and perfecting legal documents on customs to simplify administrative procedures, facilitate customs procedures and gradually improve the capacity of customs inspection, supervision and control. Improve the operational efficiency of the Customs agency through digital tools, contributing to innovation in working methods; improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Customs agency's operations and the quality of public service provision for people and businesses.

With the goal of building and developing the industry in the coming period, the Director General of the General Department of Customs said that the development of the partnership between Customs - Enterprises and related parties will continue to be promoted and actively innovated by the Customs sector, ensuring that it is increasingly substantial and goes into depth; considering enterprises as cooperative partners; taking the satisfaction of enterprises as one of the top important criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of the Customs agency's operations. The Customs sector will continue to diversify forms of information and propaganda to ensure suitability with the characteristics of business types and the specific management areas; strongly applying digital technology to information.

Director General of the General Department of Customs Nguyen Van Tho speaks at the Forum. (Photo: HP)

Director General of the General Department of Customs Nguyen Van Tho said that in order for the Customs - Business cooperation to be increasingly effective, in addition to the efforts of the Customs sector, the active participation of ministries, branches, business associations, the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and especially the active participation of the business community is indispensable.

Therefore, the Customs sector hopes that businesses will continue to coordinate and respond with the Customs agency to develop more diverse activities to develop the Customs - Business partnership. The companionship, dynamism and creativity of the business community will be an important factor to create success and development.

Mr. Luong Khanh Thiet, Deputy Head of the Customs Modernization Reform Board (General Department of Customs) said that over the past 10 years, the development of the Customs - Business partnership and related parties has been clearly demonstrated in all aspects. Typically, the relatively complete legal basis and system of guiding documents for developing partnership relations have been completed; and a step has been taken to perfect the organization of the apparatus for implementing partnership relations development.

Accordingly, the Customs Modernization Reform Board is the unit assigned to preside over advising, guiding and organizing the implementation of the task of developing partnership relations; responsible for supporting units in implementing partnership activities; presiding over the implementation of a number of partnership activities as assigned by the General Department of Customs, and being the focal point in building partnership relations with business associations. The General Department of Customs also organizes the establishment of Customs - Business Advisory Groups, Problem Handling Groups... at the department and branch levels to act as focal points in developing partnership relations at each unit.

Locally, many units have actively implemented consultation activities with businesses in the areas such as Hai Phong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ninh, Binh Duong. In 2023, the whole sector conducted 846 customs consultations with businesses, mainly on tax and customs law and policy regulations, customs modernization reform programs. Support and solving problems for businesses are also focused. In 2013 alone, there were 17,179 requests for answers to customs law problems, of which the provincial and municipal Customs Departments received 15,784 problems; the professional departments and bureaus received 1,395 problems. The problems were answered by the Customs sector via email, phone, in writing, through conferences, seminars, dialogues, training, discussions, etc.

Appreciating the efforts of the Customs agency in developing partnerships with businesses, Mr. Tran Tien Dung, Vice President of the Vietnam Logistics Services Association (VLA), said that the Customs sector not only plays a key role in managing and supervising import-export activities, but is also an important bridge to help logistics enterprises overcome trade barriers, promoting the smooth and effective circulation of goods. The development of cooperation between VLA and the Customs agency over the past time has brought many practical benefits not only to businesses but also created favorable conditions for Vietnamese goods to quickly access international markets. Moreover, this close coordination also contributes to building a transparent and fair business environment, creating trust for investors and international partners, thereby promoting sustainable economic development./.

Source: https://dangcongsan.vn/kinh-te/lay-su-hai-long-cua-doanh-nghiep-de-danh-gia-hieu-qua-hoat-dong-cua-co-quan-hai-quan-677327.html