Hai Phong Customs will make an effort and work closely with agencies to clear the flow of imported and exported goods and is determined to avoid congestion at Hai Phong port area.

This was said by the Deputy Director of Hai Phong Customs Department Nguyen Kien Giang at the virtual seminar “Customs accompanies businesses amid the Covid-19 pandemic” held by Customs News on August 18.

Deputy Director of Hai Phong Customs Department Nguyen Kien Giang

Sharing experience in operations amid the pandemic

Hai Phong Customs Department is in charge of customs management in Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, and Thai Binh.

Hai Phong customs sees quick customs clearance for businesses as an extremely important task.

Speaking at the seminar, Nguyen Kien Giang said Hai Duong, Hung Yen and Thai Binh faced complex developments of the pandemic so that they had to take strict anti-pandemic measures in areas that implemented social distancing.

The leader of Hai Phong Customs Department understood the situation and guided the branches to provide solutions

First, the branches seriously comply with guidelines on pandemic prevention and control of the central Government and local governments.

Second, the department provides anti-pandemic equipment in a timely fashion and facilities to aid customs officers during the period of the “three-on-spot” model (working, eating and sleeping at the office)

Third, giving political and ideological education to cadres and civil servants, because, they have to work away from home for a long time amid the pandemic and face many difficulties. In addition to ensuring accommodation, the encouragement of leaders is necessary to create trust for customs officers.

For the business community, those who visit the customs office must abide by regulations on pandemic control and prevention. The customs agency arranges a separate area and customs officer who is equipped with anti-pandemic equipment to receive and return dossiers to minimise direct contact between customs and business while ensuring customs process.

Furthermore, Hai Phong Customs makes a plan if coronavirus carriers or direct contacts of patients required for concentrated isolation in a branch. The information and technology unit will send customs declarations to another branch to ensure customs clearance.

For example, when the pandemic hist in Chi Linh, Hai Duong, the information and technology unit will send customs declarations to the Hung Yen customs branch.

In addition, for export processing and production firms who are required to submit their final statement on March, Hai Phong customs department proposed the General Department of Customs on allowing these firms to submit statement late without fines,

For applications to register or extend the inspection site at the firms’ headquarter, according to regulation, the customs agency must visit the site but due to pandemic, Hai Phong Customs only requests firm to send applications online. Based on the applications and law compliance of firms, the department shall approve the applications or report the General Department on approving the applications of firms.

With such solutions, despite complicated developments of pandemic, Hai Phong Customs Department has helped firms reduce difficulties and maintain goods supply chains and ensure business and production activities.

Operations of Hung Yen Customs Branch amid the pandemic

Customs accompanies enterprises to overcome the pandemic

As the largest seaport in the north and the second in the country the volume of goods imported and exported through Hai Phong port area increases from 15% to 20% every year. Notably, in the early 2021, despite the pandemic, the volume of import and export goods rose by about 20% year-on-year.

However, due to the current complex pandemic, businesses have been facing many difficulties.

Facing that situation, the department promptly grasps the situation and make plans to support the business community, said Deputy Director of Hai Phong Customs Department Nguyen Kien Giang.

For warehouses, yards and ports operators and firms who want to change the purpose of operation to cope with the disease, such as an firm wants to narrow bonded warehouses to give room to store goods because products are increasing but warehouses are overloaded, the have to hire warehouses of other firms, Hai Phong Customs understand and remove the difficulties for firm in a timely fashion.

From the cargo congestion at Cat Lai port, Hai Phong customs has actively worked with Hai Phong Port Authority to develop scenarios to cope with congestion.

First, Hai Phong Customs will quickly report to the General Department of Customs on congestion.

If there is congestion, Hai Phong Customs will guide firms to take goods to concentrated inspection sites or inland container deports in Hai Phong.

“With such initiative, Hai Phong port is unlikely to see congestion” said Nguyen Kien Giang.

Third, Hai Phong Customs Department also arranges customs officers to carry out customs clearance 24/7 for firms.

The Deputy Director said that if firms face any difficulties or problems, please contract Hai Phong customs department for timely response, because Customs and firms are partners for development and work together to overcome the pandemic.