View of the conference. By Quang Hùng

The General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) organized a seminar to review and evaluate the development of the Customs-Business Partnership. The seminar attracted representatives from 15 business associations across Vietnam.

During the seminar, representatives from the Customs Reform and Modernization Board (GDVC) presented an overview of the Customs-Business Partnership development journey over the past 10 years. The implementation of this partnership has been carried out at three levels: the General Department, regional customs departments, and local customs offices.

Over the past decade, the Vietnam Customs has flexibly and diversely applied various solutions to support and accompany the business community in the customs clearance process. The department has actively listened to and understood businesses' needs and aspirations, as well as sought cooperation from the business community to provide timely support. The GDVC has also taken on board businesses' opinions and initiatives to improve legal documents and activities for more effective implementation of the Customs-Business Partnership.

To ensure the consistent and substantive implementation of the Customs-Business Partnership and collaboration with stakeholders, the Vietnam Customs has selected and extensively implemented four main groups of solutions: Information, Consultation, Participation, and Cooperation.

The Customs authority provides the business community with useful information in various forms, ranging from updates on policy and legal changes to in-depth technical information.

The Customs authority engages in dialogue and discussions with businesses and stakeholders to find optimal solutions for issues related to customs management.

The Customs Authority organizes activities with the participation of the business community to carry out customs management tasks and collaborates with businesses on a consensual and unified basis.

The Customs Authority flexibly applies diverse solutions to support and accompany the business community in the customs clearance process.

At the seminar, the GDVC received feedback from leaders of business associations to further enhance the Customs-Business Partnership. The associations expressed their desire for the Customs Department to continue expanding dialogue channels for businesses to raise their voices and opinions, thereby improving the effectiveness of customs management.

Representative of Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association spoke at the conference. Photo: Quang Hùng

At the Customs-Business Partnership Development Review and Evaluation Seminar, representatives from various business associations expressed their appreciation for the initiatives undertaken by the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) and local customs departments to foster stronger ties between the customs authority and the business community. They acknowledged that many issues faced by businesses have been effectively addressed through these efforts.

The Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) emphasized the importance of ongoing dialogue and collaboration between the customs authority and businesses. They called for further information exchange and partnership development activities to facilitate business operations and enable the GDVC to refine its management practices.

Echoing VITAS's sentiments, the Vietnam Business Forum (VBF) highlighted the successful partnership established between VBF and the GDVC since 2014. They commended the customs authority's responsiveness in addressing business concerns and incorporating feedback into legal documents, fostering a more favorable and confidence-inspiring business environment.

The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam (JCCI) underscored the value of regular meetings, held three to four times a year under a cooperation agreement, between JCCI and the GDVC. They lauded the emphasis placed on developing Customs-Business Partnerships across all levels, from the GDVC to local customs departments, which has streamlined procedures and reduced administrative burdens for businesses.

JCCI further expressed their desire for continued dialogue to enhance import-export activities, particularly in relation to cross-agency export-import policies that require harmonization.

The Vietnam Logistics Services Association (VLA) emphasized the association's priority of fostering partnerships with government agencies. They pointed to the successful cooperation agreement signed with the Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department in 2021, which has contributed to improved efficiency for customs brokers and service quality for logistics businesses.

The Hanoi Logistics Association (HNLA) reiterated the significance of striking a balance between facilitation and management in Customs-Business Partnership development.

The business associations collectively urged the GDVC to organize more targeted activities to address specific challenges faced by businesses in different import-export sectors.

Additionally, they requested the GDVC to enhance training and consultation services on digital transformation and establish more effective channels for receiving feedback from business associations.