To create maximum favourable conditions for investment, production and business activities of enterprises, contributing to the successful accomplishment of revenue collection and customs management tasks, Binh Duong Customs Department has deployed and applied many initiatives in customs reform and modernisation.

Customs officers of Thu Dau Mot Customs branch process import
and export procedures for enterprises. Photo: L.X 

Improve performance efficiency

As a leading department in the useof information technology, innovation, customs reform and modernisation and facilitation for enterprises, the Director of Binh Duong Customs Department Nguyen Phuoc Viet Dung said that the department has developed and applied software to enhance the efficiency in customs management as well as performance, such as bonded warehouse management software (2016) with many new features bringing many benefits to the import and export business community;  software for “Analysing import and export data of enterprises in the area” integrated into the  Internal Management program to help users to statistic and analysehistory of import and export data of enterprises and identify  abnormal  statuses in import and export activities.

To have a basis for evaluating customs officers and customs services inthe department and to create an effective communication channel for customers, the department has advised and proposed to build “The Customer Satisfaction Assessment Survey Ssoftware”.In the first quarter of 2020, the department has piloted the Customer Satisfaction Survey Software at Thu Dau Mot Customs Branch.

In addition, Binh Duong Customs Department issued and updated regularly “Customs Handbook”. The handbook is issued in five languages: Vietnamese, English, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean and provided free for enterprises. The department has synthesised, standardized, and publicisedpolicies and regulations of the laws in the handbook to help enterprises search and carry out customs procedures easily, to limit mistakes from enterprises and prevent the harassment of customs officers.

Support and facilitate enterprises

In parallel with the initiatives and solutions to reform administrative procedures and modernise customs, with State management characteristics on customs in area where there are many FDI enterprises, Binh Duong Customs Department has deployed many  solutions to improve the efficiency of customs management andlegal compliance capacity of enterprises through Customs-business activities.

Amid the complicated pandemic situation from the beginning of the year to now, to restore impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the leader of Binh Duong Customs Department has directed branches to monitor the regular operation of businesses to provide solutions to handle difficulties for businesses and prevent the abuseof the difficult situation for trade fraud, smuggling and vacating.   

Kim Won Sik, President of the the Korean Business Association in Binh Duong, said that more than 300 South Korean enterprises investing in Binh Duong province have been supported and enjoyedfavourable conditions in import and export activities by Binh Duong Customs Department. From the beginning of the year to now, the business production of Korean enterprises have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Customs sector and Binh Duong Customs always support enterprises to overcome difficulties and restore stability.

Recently, Binh Duong Customs Department completed the development of a question bank about common customs procedures of enterprises in the area. The department sent the questions to enterprises in the province through business associations for reference. In addition, the questions werepublicly posted by the Binh Duong Customs Department in the "Questions and Answers" section on the department’s website (https://haiquanbinhduong.gov.vn/).

Building the question bank is also a practical action tosupport businesses. Through this, businesses will be more favourable, proactive and faster in researching, understanding and complying with customs laws and policies. At the same time, in customs process, if there are difficulties and obstacles, businesses can contact Binh Duong Customs Department viamany different channels such as direct contact, in writing, phone, email, onthe department’s website and the online consulting team for answers.

In the first seven months of 2020, the number of enterprises carrying out customs procedures in the area increased 4.2% and import turnover of Binh Duong Customs Department increased slightly (1.39%). Foreign partners have reduced or cancelled orders due to the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to a decline in export turnover and in budget revenue. As of August 18, 2020, Binh Duong Customs Department collected and contributed more thanVND 9,000 billion to the State budget, reaching nearly 53% of the assigned target (17,100 billion VND), a 9.5% year-on-year decrease.