Binh Duong is one of the provinces in the southern regions heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. In the pandemic centre, Binh Duong Customs Department has been making efforts to fulfill the "dual goals" of virus containment and economic growth, as well as ensuring fast and safe cargo clearance for firms.

Leaders of Binh Duong Customs Department and advisory divisions
conducted online consultations to remove obstacles relating to
customs procedures for Medochemie (Far East) Company.
Photo: Phi Vũ

Protecting the "green zone"

To deal with the increasing number of Covid-19 infection cases, Binh Duong deployed a lockdown measure in 11 wards of Tan Uyen town and Thuan An city for 15 days from 0:00 on August 22 and seven wards in Di An city starting from August 23. Together with the local governments of Binh Duong, leaders of Binh Duong Customs Department have directed affiliate branches and units to develop and immediately implement "three on spot" model for anti-pandemic work and to maintain cargo clearance for firms.

Huynh Van Ut - Manager of Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Park Customs Branch, said following the direction of Binh Duong Customs Department, on August 24, the unit deployed the “three on-spot” model and arranged accommodation and foods for customs officers to stay at the working place during the peak period of anti-pandemic in 15 days. With the number of only 10 officers in charge of tasks of the entire sub-department, it would be very tough to handle such a huge workload. However, all customs officers and the employees of the Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Park Customs Branch would make efforts and determination to complete the task and ensure the smooth operation of import and export activities of firms in the area.

Song Than Industrial Customs Branch is also one of the sub-departments located in the lockdown area with a high number of Covid-19 infections. Hence the unit had set up plan for human resources protection to maintain smooth operation of import and export activities.

Manager of Song Than Industrial Customs Branch Nguyen Thanh Thien said in the past, some customs officers who lived in HCM City had also performed "three on-spot" model by working and staying at the office. On August 23, following the directions of the leader of Binh Duong Customs Department on tightening the implementation of social distancing, the unit continued to encourage customs officers to implement the "three on-spot" model, together with customs officers who were arranged to work from home to maintain stable operation.

In addition, Binh Duong Customs Department said since the start of the fourth Covid-19 pandemic wave, the unit had planned and activated anti-pandemic measures at the highest level. For example, fully equipped machinery, tools and equipment for customs officers and employees in the branch to ensure safety when performing cargo clearance activities. Moreover, to be proactive in screening and promptly detecting customs officers and employees likely to be infected with Covid-19, Binh Duong Customs Department established a Covid-19 test team. On that basis, following the direction of People's Committee of Binh Duong Province, the test team was consolidated into a Covid-19 Safety Team to monitor and prevent the pandemic at the unit.

Sharing the burden of firms

Every year, Binh Duong Customs carries out procedures for some 6,000 businesses. Accordingly, about 2,000 businesses regularly carry out customs procedures. Due to the impact of the pandemic, a large number of businesses have temporarily suspended operations.

Deputy Director of Binh Duong Customs Department Nguyen Thanh Binh said through weekly information on the operation of import-export firms, 731 firms operating in Binh Duong must stop and temporarily suspend operations due to the Covid-19 pandemic at the end of August 18. Therefore, Binh Duong Customs Department established a quick response team of the department and its branches to handle problems and quickly clear goods for firms. Furthermore, the unit stays in touch with firms which were temporarily suspending operations to provide support.

Following the direction of the General Department of Customs on transferring backlogged goods in Cat Lai to inland container depot (ICD)s, Binh Duong Customs actively carried out related works. For example, establishing deployment teams at the Department and related branches to coordinate with HCM City Customs and Saigon Newport Corporation to process clearance procedures for goods at risk of backlogs at Cat Lai port.

Having just completed clearance procedures for two containers of imported cowhides and oil preparations for export production at Song Than Customs Branch, a representative of Green Tech Vietnam Joint Stock Company said those were two of the shipments transferred from Cat Lai port to Song Than ICD for clearance. The company was supported by Song Than customs officers to process quick clearance to promptly put raw materials into production. In particular, through transporting goods to Song Than ICD for clearance, it has saved a lot of time and costs for businesses in manufacturing amid social distancing.

Medochemie (Far East) Co., Ltd. is pleased to say they had just been solved problem by Binh Duong Customs Department about carrying out customs procedures for a shipment of Levofloxacin raw materials to serve for the treatment of Covid-19. As a medicine manufacturing firm, specialising in importing raw materials for processing for export production, but now the company wanted to donate some Levofloxacin products for free to some units in Vietnam to support for Covid-19 disease treatment. However, the enterprise was not clear on the procedure. As soon as receiving business problems, Binh Duong Customs Department conducted online consultations, supported and created all favourable conditions for the company to quickly deliver medicine to support the health authorities of Binh Duong.