Professional activities at Hon Gai port Customs Branch, Quang Ninh Customs Department. Photo: Q.H

On May 20, 2022, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai signed Decision No. 628/QD-TTg approving the Customs development strategy to 2030.

Taking reform and modernization as the basis

According to Decision 628 of the Prime Minister, the Customs Development Strategy to 2030 sets out the requirements and development perspectives of Vietnam Customs.

That is, the development of Customs must ensure the leadership of the Party and the management of the State; comply with the provisions of the law; be appropriate with the country's socio-economic development orientation and the State administrative reform program; following the international standards and practices on Customs development; implementation of international commitments to which Vietnam is a member.

At the same time, develop Customs to facilitate trade activities, effectively combat smuggling and trade fraud; fully and comprehensively implement international commitments on import-export tax, customs and trade facilitation that Vietnam has signed; effectively respond to changes related to trade remedies in the context of increasing protectionism trends; improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the State management of Customs, contributing to improving national competitiveness.

Developing Customs on the basis of inheritance and development of the reform and modernization achievements, promotes the application of scientific achievements of the fourth industrial revolution, continuing to comprehensively modernize the State management of Customs.

Along with that, taking reform and modernization as the basis, modernizing the customs management model as the key point, promoting the implementation of digital transformation in the customs sector as the foundation for the development of Customs in the new period.

Focusing on investment to modernize customs in key regions and areas. At the same time, taking into account the balanced and harmonious development among regions and areas to ensure the common development and modernization of Vietnam Customs.

It is important to combine and promote internal resources, as well as take advantage of external support for rapid and sustainable development.

Development goals of Vietnam Customs

The Customs Development Strategy to 2030 also sets seven goals for Vietnam Customs.

First, continuing to build a legal foundation on modern Customs, ensuring a full legal basis for the development and implementation of digital and smart Customs models. The legal provisions on customs and law on export duty and import duty must have a unified coherence. Managing duty for exported and imported goods must comply with the law, against loss of revenue and tax fraud. Reforming customs administrative procedures in the direction of transparency, simplicity, and consistency, in line with the standards and recommendations of the World Customs Organization (WCO) in order to reduce the time and costs of carrying out clearance procedures and goods release.

Second, to centralize, modernize and automate customs inspection, supervision and control; promoting pre-inspection and post-audit, reducing the rate of inspections during customs procedures; deploying a smart border model, green customs as recommended by WCO.

Third, improving the effectiveness of anti-smuggling, preventing trade fraud and illegal transport of goods across borders. Combining modern professional control methods with traditional methods.

Fourth, building an integrated centralized customs information technology system to ensure the requirements of information security with a digital platform and appropriate with the e-Government and digital Government architecture, and international standards. Besides that, strongly applies scientific and technological achievements of the fourth industrial revolution.

Building a system of modern infrastructure, machinery and equipment to meet the requirements of State management of Customs in the new situation, implementing the National Single Window, the ASEAN Single Window, connecting with Vietnam's trading partners in order to maximize the centralization of handling administrative procedures, connection, exchange and sharing of information between Customs authorities and ministries and competent agencies under the ministries, State management agencies at the border gate and relevant units participating in the supply chain. From that, meeting the requirements of comprehensive State management of Customs from the beginning to the final stage of goods being exported, imported, in transit and means of transport on exit and entry.

Fifth, renovating the organizational structure of the customs in a streamlined and reasonable manner, reducing intermediaries. Promoting the development and implementation of a capacity-based human resource management model based on job position. Developing human resources who are professional, master technology, modern technical equipment, meeting the requirements of launching digital and smart customs models and political tasks of the Customs sector.

Sixth, promoting comprehensive, extensive and effective international cooperation and integration on customs, improving the role, position and reputation of Vietnam Customs in the world customs community; developing cooperation and partnerships between Customs and related parties, creating a foundation and contributing to improving the efficiency of State management of Customs. Furthermore, improving the level of business satisfaction with the implementation of administrative procedures in the field of customs.

Finally, effectively implementing the tasks assigned in Decision No. 38/QD-TTg dated January 12, 2021 of the Prime Minister approving the scheme on "Reform of quality inspection and food safety model for imported goods” (hereinafter referred to as the scheme on reforming the model of quality inspection and food safety inspection for imported goods).