The development and operation of the digital customs system and the smart customs model is of great significance in the customs reform and modernization process in the 2021 – 2030 period.

A Customs officer at work at the Online Supervision Center in
the General Department of Customs headquarters. Photo: Hong Nu

Overcome difficulties to achieve progress

Amid the turbulence of the Covid-19 pandemic, customs units under the General Department of Customs and local customs department have made efforts to overcome difficulties to achieve the development of the digital customs system and the smart customs model.

To follow the progress of building the smart customs model, the General Department of Customs has issued Document 3435 to assign customs units to review and complete tasks to build the smart customs model, the Customs Control and Management Department said.

Local customs departments such as HCM City, Hai Phong, Hanoi and Binh Duong are requested to solve problems in operations.

Deputy Director of Hai Phong Customs Department, Nguyen Kien Giang said under Document 3435, the department is assigned to assume prime responsibility to develop 12 operations related to customs supervision, import and export duties and work with other units to develop other operations. The department has arranged officers, drawn up detailed plans and assigned officers to work with local customs departments as well as required local customs departments to study documents to effectively carry out assigned tasks.

“Customs units under the department are assigned to carry specific research on specialized areas such as post-customs clearance audit, risk management, inspection, and anti-smuggling while other branches are responsible for studying all documents on other operations. By August 10, Hai Phong Customs Department had completed the assigned tasks and transferred them to the General Department of Customs as planned. The department's working groups not only join the development of a smart Customs model but also join implementation when this new model is put into operation,” said Mr. Nguyen Kien Giang.

For HCM City Customs Department, the unit is assigned to preside over and coordinate with other units to develop operations, especially eight customs inspection processes.

Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department Nguyen Huu Nghiep said that, as a lead unit, the department has developed a plan and assigned specific tasks to each member.

Notably, facing the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic in southern provinces and cities, to speed up the implementation progress, the HCM City Customs Department made efforts to overcome difficulties by establishing a "Subcommittee for developing process" to discuss and provide opinions.

Furthermore, the department has chaired and coordinated with the Customs Verification Department to organize online meetings with customs departments in Hai Phong, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Da Nang, Hanoi, Binh Dinh and Ba Ria - Vung Tau to discuss, exchange, and orientate contents on eight inspection processes in accordance with prevailing regulations, ensuring efficiency and accuracy to implement the smart Customs model and ensure the state management of customs for the field of inspection.

Deputy Director of Lao Cai Customs Department Nguyen Quyet Chien said the unit is assigned to review two processes related to the railway area, including management and supervision of imported and exported goods and entry and exit means of transport by rail. The department has assigned the Customs Branch of Lao Cai international railway station to assume the prime responsibility for implementation. The department has also actively coordinated with Lao Cai International Railway Station and discussed with relevant units such as: Hanoi Customs Department and Lang Son Customs Department to complete the review of the two processes as planned.

Continue to complete processes

Deputy Director of Customs Control and Management Department Dao Duy Tam said that, with the efforts of officials of the customs department under the General Department and local customs departments, by the end of August, the whole sector had completed the review and consultancy of all 128 processes related to the smart Customs model. The department has completed and "mapped out the overall process, the core process of customs procedures" and reported and consulted with the leaders of the General Department of Customs and heads of customs units under the General Department (at the meeting on September 6).

The overview process has fully demonstrated the steps to carry out customs procedures for imported and exported goods.

“Based on the direction of the leaders of the General Department of Customs and the comments of the heads of the units at the meeting on August 6, 2021, the Customs Control and Management Department will work with relevant units to continue to complete professional processes and the contents related to the smart Customs model," said Mr. Dao Duy Tam.