Production line of ITM Semiconductor Vietnam Co., Ltd at VSIP Bac Ninh 

Bac Ninh Customs is currently administering 5,900 importers and exporters in Bac Ninh, Bac Giang and Thai Nguyen provinces.

In 2022, the import and export value through Bac Ninh Customs impressively reached US$176.63 billion, including US$99.02 billion from exports and US$77.61 billion from imports. Bac Ninh Customs led the country in import and export value.

Delivering an opening speech, Ms. Tran Duc Hung, Director of Bac Ninh Customs Department, emphasized that the department is currently managing 13 out of 79 priority enterprises, leading in the sector in service to priority enterprises. In 2022, green flows reached 73.42%, higher than the average; yellow flows accounted for 24.9% and red flows were 1.68%. “This means that 1.68 containers need physical inspection for every 100 containers of goods imported and exported through Bac Ninh Customs. This demonstrates the department’s efforts in customs facilitation,” he emphasized.

2023 is forecast to be a tough year for the world economy, including Vietnam, as shown by a sharp drop in declarations and import and export values handled by the Bac Ninh Customs Department in the first quarter of 2023.

Specifically, the import and export value served by the department reached approximately US$34 billion in the year to March 23 (down 17% year on year). Budget revenue sank 27% year on year to VND2,343 billion (US$100 million). In addition, the department witnessed a 12% drop in declaration forms, with 22,753 filings.

“Business surveys showed that most companies found it hard to secure enough orders. Some big companies suffered a 56% decline in orders from a year earlier. These figures demonstrated the negative impacts of the global economic downturn on companies in the area administered by the Bac Ninh Customs Department,” said Mr. Hung.

Aware of those difficulties, the Bac Ninh Customs Department is committed to further supporting and facilitating the business community to well observe customs laws, step up administrative procedure reforms and modernize customs to reduce the time for customs clearance of imported and exported goods. In the discussion session at the workshop, representatives from GDC’s departments and representatives from Bac Ninh Customs agencies answered many questions raised by enterprises.

For example, customs officers answered questions about the procedures for exported goods manufactured from sample materials of export processing companies; demolition of goods imported under Type A31 by export processing companies; and demolition of raw materials that have not been put into production.

Also at this meeting, representatives of the Risk Management Department and the Import-Export Duty Department introduced new policies on customs, export tax and import tax. Specifically, companies learned about the purpose of the Pilot Support Program for voluntary compliance with customs laws.

They also explained trade facilitation and cost reduction for businesses; support for the settlement of customs procedures, prevention of customs law violations; as well as the reliable relationship between customs authorities and companies in export, import and transit activities.