Mr. Nguyen Van Can, Director General of the General Department of Vietnam Customs, recently signed Decision 707/QD-TCHQ approving the Plan for Customs Digital Transformation to 2025 and further to 2030.

By 2030, all customs procedures will be electronically handled

The plan is designed to accelerate comprehensive digital transformation in customs operations in line with digital transformation for importers, exporters, and authorities in launching the National Single Window and the ASEAN Single Window to fulfill the goal that 100% of customs procedures will be done in the online (paperless) environment.

By 2025, the customs sector will complete digital customs where comprehensive digital transformation is applied to State customs management with a highly integrated, open information technology system of international standards to totally meet the needs of automatic handling of all stages of customs operations from the beginning to the end, carry out customs procedures anytime, anywhere on any device and meet the need of using the information on the basis of applying the latest technological achievements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

It will accomplish customs goals stated in the Prime Minister's Decision 749/QD-TTg dated June 3, 2020 on National Digital Transformation Program to 2025, with orientation to 2030.

Regarding key objectives, specifically, for customs operations, the plan will foster complete digital transformation in customs operations consistent with digital transformation adopted by enterprises and customs authorities in carrying out the National Single Window and the ASEAN Single Window to centralize, modernize and automate management and administration of customs operations, consultation and enforcement of customs inspection, supervision and control.

Furthermore, simple customs procedures are maximally digitized; professional fields are integrated, interconnected, and highly automated. It will accelerate pre- and post-customs clearance inspection to reduce inspection in relation to customs procedures; and apply the science and technology of the Fourth Industrial Revolution with modern equipment to minimize human intervention in customs clearance processes.

Standardization toward smart customs

Specifically, on digital transformation in customs procedures, the plan will complete the overall redesign of the information technology system to implement digital customs and ensure system information security. Accordingly, along with the synchronous implementation of digital transformation in the National Single Window and the ASEAN Single Window, customs procedures are performed between customs authorities and importers and exporters entirely in the digital environment (paperless) anytime, anywhere on any device; customs operations automatically managed in the digital environment in all stages of pre- and post-customs clearance; and seamless management ensured from the beginning to the end for goods exported, imported, and transited and means of transport on exit, entry and in transit.

All customs procedures will be digitized and carried out electronically; 95% of customs documents are converted to digital data (5% are categorized as special records such as confidential records or records used during customs failure) and 100% of basic customs control records are converted to electronic data and digitized.

Regarding tax administration, tax debt is managed electronically with modern methods.

For post-customs clearance inspection, it will automatically identify objects to be inspected for post-customs clearance by deploying automatic models of risk analysis, assessment, data analysis, professional affairs, and unusual signs on the information technology system.

To prevent and combat smuggling, trade fraud, and illegal cross-border transportation of goods, the sector will automatically collect and analyze information on import and export, human entry and exit and means of transport through intelligence and international cooperation to make records to identify high-risk shipments according to control criteria; automatically analyze and warn unusual export and import transactions of enterprises; automatically warn against specific addresses of suspected shipments and provide detailed instructions on customs control measures; and apply artificial intelligence in compliance measurement to establish and deploy effective and flexible control options. The leader of the General Department of Vietnam Customs said that, with the above specific roadmaps, digital customs goals will be successfully completed to make importing and exporting activities of the business community more convenient.