Representatives attend a virtual conference at the General Department of Customs. Photo: T.Binh.

Accompanying businesses

On the morning of November 30, the General Department of Customs held a virtual conference, titled: "Accompanying businesses to overcome Covid-19 pandemic". This conference was organized for SME’s and attended by representatives of the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (VINASME), as well as more than 50 other enterprises.

Representatives of the General Department of Customs and nine local customs departments also attended the conference.

During the conference, a representative of the Customs Modernization Reform Committee (General Department of Customs) and host of the conference, said: “The support to enterprises in overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic has been brilliant from the General Department of Customs and local customs departments and branches.”

The General Department of Customs has issued and advised competent authorities to issue guidance and policies related to customs procedures, tax policies, anti-smuggling and the handling of violations.

In addition, the General Department of Customs has organized many activities, such as online conferences, dialogues and seminars to support the business community.

The Customs representative announced many official documents to request local departments to quickly carry out clearance procedures, while ensuring sound State management and improving the effectiveness on the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and the pandemic.

Local Customs units have focused on solutions to remove difficulties and obstacles for businesses, such as: building action and contingency plans to support businesses when the pandemic is complicated, launching direct information channels to business leaders, informing employees about import and export procedures and establishing a Working Group to support import-export activities.

More than 50 representatives of SME’s attended the virtual conference. Photo: T.Binh

Enterprises to expect further reduction to customs clearance time

At the conference, Mr. Pham Huy Hung, Vice President of VINASME, shared that the recent social distancing period has directly affected production and business activities for many enterprises.

In a big city like Ho Chi Minh City, many industrial parks and leading enterprises carried out the "three-on-site" model, although this implementation process faced many difficulties.

“As an organization representing SME’s accounting for 97% of the total number of businesses in the country, VINASME realized that most businesses need support from the Government regarding vaccinations, tax reductions, low bank interest rates and quick customs procedures.

For import and export activities, VINASME said: “In order to promote and clear the flow of goods, it is first necessary to continue to reduce customs clearance time and shorten storage time, thereby reducing costs for businesses.”

In addition, in order to support enterprises in organizing production and business in “the new normal”, it is suggested that Customs continue to strengthen support for enterprises to solve difficulties and obstacles in customs procedures," said Mr. Pham Huy Hung.

At the conference, representatives of agencies under the General Department of Customs and local customs departments directly answered many questions related to tax policies and customs procedures.

Customs News will provide further information on any questions readers have, especially of those in the business community.

This is the third conference related to the topic "Accompanying businesses to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic" organized by the General Department of Customs. The former two conferences were for industry enterprises and FDI enterprises.