Facing complex and unpredictable developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, Cau Treo International Border Gate Customs Branch has been working with authorities at the border gate to strengthen the effective pandemic prevention and control.

Cau Treo Customs arranges customs officials to work on
a rotating basis every 15 days. Photo: Phan Tram

A representative of Cau Treo International Border Gate Customs Branch said since the pandemic outbreak, the unit has identified difficulties in customs operations.

To cope with the pandemic, Cau Treo Customs has updated information and documents of all levels on the Covid-19 pandemic prevention and introduced anti-pandemic measures to create favourable conditions for import and export activities, entry and exit and effectively conduct the State management on customs while ensuring health for customs officials and employees.

The unit has coordinated with the Health Centre of Huong Son district (Ha Tinh) to deploy Covid-19 vaccination for all employees of the unit.

In addition, the unit is not negligent when contacting foreigners and establish a team to solve problems for and support enterprises.

Therefore, as of May 15, Cau Treo customs received and handled procedures for import-export goods with turnover of US$163 million, paid to the State budget about VND 214 billion VND, exceeding nearly 43% of the target.

Talking to Customs News, Le Minh Duc, Director of Cau Treo International Border Gate Customs Branch said to effectively implement the prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic and ensure customs operations, the unit has arranged customs officials to work on rotating basis every 15 days.

“The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has reduced the means of transport through the border gate by about 50%. At this time, Laos is implementing social distancing, it is not easy to hire drivers,” said Duc.

In addition, Cau Treo Customs has also worked with authorities at the border gate to strengthen pandemic prevention and control measures arranged customs officials on duty 24 hours per day at border gate.

Cau Treo Customs is working with Cau Treo Border Guard to tighten the border gate travel such as: those who arrive at the landmark have to be isolated, vehicles arriving at the border gate must "change drivers" and assigning officers to patrol the area around the border gate.

Duc said in the current situation, the unit considers the prevention of Covid-19 pandemic a top task. The unit has been complying all regulations on disease prevention at the unit, and worked with the Health Quarantine and Border Guard forces to strictly supervise all passengers, means of transport, and the luggage of passengers entering and leaving the border gate, to prevent risks of infection, especially for passengers on arrival from localities and countries that have recorded Covid-19 infections.

In parallel, to fulfil the task in 2021, Cau Treo Customs will focus on solutions on administrative procedure reform, State budget revenue, anti-smuggling and trade fraud. The unit will support businesses to solve problems amid the pandemic.