Representatives of countries attend the 33rd ASEAN Customs Directors-General Meeting. Photo: Tran Anh

Strengthening consultation mechanisms

At consultation sessions within the framework of the 33rd ASEAN Customs Directors-General Meeting hosted by Vietnam Customs taking place from June 4 to 6, 2024 in the Southern province of Phu Quoc (Kien Giang), ASEAN Customs and partners discussed and shared best practices for customs management and trade facilitation, and sought cooperation opportunities in the field of customs, especially on emerging issues related to sustainability, Green Customs, cross-border e-commerce...

Deputy Director General of Vietnam Customs Nguyen Van Tho emphasized that the consultation mechanism of ASEAN Customs is effective, helping ASEAN Customs quickly complete cooperation goals. With the efforts that ASEAN Customs has been making, there will no longer be a difference in development levels and we will increasingly come closer together, support each other to develop, and support each other on multilateral cooperation forums such as WCO, ASEM, APEC...

In particular, according to Deputy Director General Nguyen Van Tho, the "Green Customs" initiative of Vietnam Customs has been recognized by Customs administrations in the ASEAN region as well as the business community, especially the US - ASEAN, and EU - ASEAN business communities. Customs administrations and the parties wish to jointly promote "Green Customs", build a facilitating ASEAN customs environment, improve the capacity of goods control, and ensure security and safety.

Building a digital economy, green economy, and circular economy is the top priority of the Party and Government of Vietnam in the current period, especially the period of promoting economic growth and recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic. As the role of "gatekeeper of the economy" and controlling import and export goods across borders, Vietnam Customs always proactively enhances the effectiveness of inspection and control of import and export goods across borders to ensure quality safety; employing modern techniques such as customs clearance systems, scanners, and centralized monitoring systems to improve the effectiveness of environmental and public health protection.

Promoting public-private partnerships

Improving the professional capacity of Customs agencies is a regular task that Customs administrations of ASEAN Member States are still doing. An important part of that task is to regularly understand the needs of businesses, especially the private sector. A close partnership between Customs and the private sector will open up more opportunities for cooperation and enhance mutual benefits for all parties.

Mr. Chris Humphrey, Executive Director, Europe-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) said that to benefit businesses and facilitate legal trade, the EU-ABC has proposed plans and initiatives to support and cooperate with ASEAN Customs in the coming time. Specifically, the initiative on information compliance. This initiative helps businesses better understand the procedures they must follow to comply with the requirements of Customs administrations, including Vietnam Customs. Businesses have a better understanding of procedures, such as forms and declarations, which will help speed up customs clearance.

Assessing the business environment in Vietnam in creating favorable conditions to attract the business community, Mr. Chris Humphrey said that Vietnam has become an attractive destination for foreign investors, such as building factories, service centers, and exporting goods around the world. Not only trade, but the investment sector has also grown since the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) took effect. Vietnam has become a trade hub not only in Asia but in the world, based on the aforementioned FTAs, young and dynamic workforce, as well as favorable geographical location.

In addition, businesses around the world are currently diversifying their supply chains due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and war... Vietnam is determining its position very well in the diversification of that supply chain, Mr. Chris Humphrey said.

Sharing the same opinion, the representative of the US-ABC said that Customs administrations have been very active in updating new technologies, especially the consultation relationship between Customs and the private sector. It is one of the most effective public-private partnerships and has a symbiotic relationship.

Deputy Director General Nguyen Van Tho shared that ASEAN the US-ABC and EU-ABC have maintained a close and effective annual dialogue and consultation cooperation channel. Vietnam Customs also appreciates the efforts and activities of the US-ABC and EU-ABC as a bridge to promote cooperation between businesses with ASEAN and Vietnam as well as technical support for Vietnamese enforcement agencies, including the Customs agency, in planning, building and implementing policies, contributing to improving the business investment environment and enhancing the competitiveness of Vietnam.

ASEAN in general and ASEAN Customs, in particular, have maintained and promoted effective and substantive dialogue and cooperation channels with the ASEAN business community through the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC) to build and plan appropriate policies, meeting the requirements of strategic development orientation of each ASEAN Member State while satisfying the aspirations of the business community, actively supporting the journey of building the ASEAN Economic Community.