The General Department of Customs has been working to shorten and simplify customs procedures to help businesses with import and export procedures and improve competitiveness in customs.

Deputy Director General of Customs Hoang Viet Cuong speaks at the virtual workshop.
Photo: Quang Hung

Information is accessible

The Vietnam Chamber of Industry and Commerce (VCCI), the General Department of Customs (GDC) and the US Agency for International Development in Vietnam (USAID) held a virtual workshop on “Businesses’ satisfaction with import-export administrative procedures; Findings from 2020 Survey” on Thursday in Hanoi.

At the workshop, Hoang Viet Cuong said the customs authority has performed very well its role as the lead agency, worked closely with the ministries, sectors and Government agencies in developing and perfecting the legal system on state management related to the customs field such as: single window mechanism, specialised inspection for import-export goods.

Moreover, the Customs sector has constantly reformed its organisational structure and improved the quality of officials and civil servants; strengthened discipline and integrity in performance of official duties; reformed the method of human resource management according to the capacity-based management. The organisation of the capacity assessment exam in recent years has created a learning movement throughout the sector to improve qualifications, knowledge and skills.

He said, the GDC has realised that it is necessary to cut red tape, improve administrative services, combat harassment and negative acts and enhance coordination between the customs and other authorities.

Dr Vu Tien Loc, Chairman of the VCCI, said the report on survey results has reflected many positive changes in 2020 compared to the past.

Specifically, the goal is to make information on import-export administrative policies and procedures more accessible. Businesses appreciate information provided by the Customs. Businesses were also more satisfied with the support and answers of agencies. Customs administrative procedures are also more convenient for businesses, as are declarations, physical inspection of goods, tax payment, tax refund/non-tax collection and complaint handling.

Some major reforms of the Customs have also been recognised by businesses, for example, reducing overlaps and duplications in post-customs clearance inspection, procedures for certifying goods passing through the area through an automatic customs management system; and cutting out-of-pocket expenses during import and export procedures. This shows the awareness of firms in integrity in operation and the efforts of the Customs and other ministries and agencies in modifying discipline in performance of duties.

The survey on businesses’ satisfaction with import-export administrative procedures

E-documents applied more comprehensively 

Tran Duc Nghia, Director of Delta International Company Limited (a logistics company) said that he highly appreciated the reforms.

The report on "Businesses’ satisfaction with import-export administrative procedures: Findings from 2020 Survey" also shows that compared to 2015, the percentage of firms that assessed the ease of compliance with procedures rose significantly. However, regular changes in regulations or legal policies make most difficulties for businesses.

Specifically, almost 87% of surveyed firms said the support of the customs agency is efficient while 85.3% of them said the support of the customs agency is timely.

From these findings, the business community asked the Customs authority to simplify procedures and help them more in procedures for HS code identification and customs valuation consultations.

Firms also suggested applying electronic records more comprehensively to avoid face-to-face contact in customs clearance at customs branches. In addition, they hope the information and answers to firms must be paid more attention to and conducted more effectively by officers and must be updated regularly.

To minimise unofficial costs, firms want the customs authority to supervise implementation of discipline, administrative discipline, public service of customs officers and publicise the handling of customs officers who commit violations acts. At the same time, the customs authority should issue mechanisms for firms to make recommendations and complaints about harassing and troubling acts.

In conclusion, Deputy General Director Hoang Viet Cuong said the Customs agency will make stronger efforts to reform, to shift from customs management into customs service to people and businesses.

Therefore, Customs will continue to apply the method of risk management, publicise the compliance with the law of the business community, to ensure fairness between businesses and Customs.

Regarding specialised inspection, the leader of the General Department of Customs said that they will review the specialised inspection list to avoid duplication and simplify specialised inspection paperwork to reduce time and costs for businesses.