The Customs- business partnership is an opportunity for associations and businesses to express their opinions in developing legal documents on customs, contributing to simplifyingadministrative procedures and solving problems in import and export activities.

Through dialogue conferences, the business community has the chanceto discuss
and express opinions in developing legal documents on customs. Photo: Quang Hung 

Actively participate in developing legal documents 

According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, the business community and stakeholders have actively participated in building customs laws, contributing to improving the efficiency of customs management for import and export goods, creating favourable conditions and promptly removing difficulties for businesses. The consultations between the Customs authority and the business association and the business community have been professionalised and improved. The consultation has focused on issues impactedby the adjustment of policies and laws.

The suggestions and proposals of business associations have been recorded, considered and reflected by Customs on the draft legal documents so that stakeholders can easily follow and comment. The comments of the business community have contributed to simplifying administrative procedures, solving problems in import-export activities, specifying the responsibilities and obligations of parties, as well as strictly regulate conditions for carrying out customs procedures for import and export goods, satisfyingcustoms management requirements.

Talking to Customs News, the Chief of Office of the Vietnam Aluminum Association Ly Thi Ngan said over the past time, the aluminum business community and the Aluminum Association have participated in building laws through seminars, written comments, written recommendations and working sessions between the association and the General Department of Vietnam Customs. The recommendations and proposals of the association and businesses in the aluminum industry have been recorded and considered by the Customs authority to provide solutions to instruct businesses in an effective and practical manner.

Ngan said that in 2019 and 2020, the Aluminum Business Association proposed Customs and relevant agencies strengthen inspection and control of goods to prevent and restrict smuggling, trade fraud and the illicit transportation of aluminum products into Vietnam. In addition, Customs supported businesses to speed up customs clearance and import of raw materials for production when the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the supply chain of goods. The Vietnam Aluminum Business Association acknowledges and is thankful forthe support of the General Department of Vietnam Customs, customs departments of provinces, cities and agencies.

Head of Customs Sub-Committee, Vietnam Automobile Manufacturer Association (VAMA) Nguyen Anh Tuyet said the business community and VAMA had opportunity to give opinions on theCustoms law-making process through workshops held by the General Department of Vietnam Customs, provincial and municipal customs departments; discuss and provide suggestions in writing with the General Department of Vietnam Customs. On the other hand, organising workshops between Customs and businesses to exchange on specific issues and products.

“Most of the recommendations and proposals of the association are seriously acknowledged and considered by Customs, except for some issues that have not yet been clearly regulated. Draft legal documents developed by the Customs are often easy to follow,” Tuyet said.

Maintain regular dialogue

Over the past time, relations between Customs and businesses has gradually transferred from a relationship between management agency and managed entities into the Customs-Business Partnership, contributing to supervising law enforcement and coordinating to improve the efficiency of customs management. From 2011 up to now, the Customs-Business Partnership programmes have been promoted and increasingly deployed in an effective and practical manner. Business consultation is held at both the General Department level and by the customs departments of provinces and cities, contributing to promoting law enforcement support and law enforcement supervision.

Tuyet also said that the association expects cooperation activities to continue to be maintained and developed with acommon goal of facilitating trade, supporting production and business for businesses. The association considers the Customs-business partnership as the opportunity for associations and businesses to express their opinions in making customs legal documents.

“To develop the Customs-Business partnership, in the near future, the Association desires the General Department of Vietnam Customs to continue maintaining a regular dialogue mechanism with businesses through thematic meetings, conferences, seminars, specialized training courses, helping businesses to have the opportunity to participate in building the legal documents on customs in the most practical manner. On the other hand, enterprises are exchanged and approached with policies and changes in import and export activities in the fastest manner, contributing to promoting the development of businesses,” Ngan said.