On October 28, Ha Noi People's Committee issued Plan No. 205/ KH-UBND on supporting businesses to carry out customs procedures in the city for 2020-2025.

Mr. Hoang Quoc Quang - Deputy Director of Hanoi Customs Department. 

Particularly, the Hanoi Customs Department is assigned to lead and work with agencies in implementing solutions to facilitate import and export enterprises. Customs Newspaper spoke with Mr. Hoang Quoc Quang, Deputy Director of Hanoi Customs Department, about this plan.

Could you tell us the key issues to support enterprises in carrying out customs procedures in Ha Noi?

To promote the city’s advantages, attract domestic and foreign investment, create maximum favorable conditions for import-export, business production activities and logistics, contributing to improving the city’s ranking in the provincial competitiveness index (PCI); ensure technical facilities to serve import-export enterprises associated with customs modernization, Hanoi People's Committee issued Plan No. 205/KH-UBND.

The plan sets out six tasks and nine specific tasks, assigns responsibilities in chairing and working among agencies of the city. In which, focus on supporting the implementation of procedures of investment, land, customs and tax, reforming administrative procedures, ensuring transparency, speed and convenience.

Signing partnership cooperation agreements, exchanging information, supporting mechanisms, solving difficulties and problems for import-export enterprises. Speeding ​​up construction and putting warehouse projects and customs checkpoints into operation, and improving logistics service infrastructure in the area.

One of the key tasks to ensure technical facilities and conditions for enterprises is the planning and allotment of land to Ha Noi Customs Department to build customs branches at warehouses, centralized checkpoints for import and export goods, logistics service centers and install specialized equipment and machinery which are required by Customs.

To develop express delivery sites, centralized e-commerce sites, and headquarters of Express Delivery Customs Branches, Investment and Processing Customs Branch; to supplement the city's logistics development project, to allot land and allocate capital funds, and assign Ha Noi Customs Department as an investor to build the centralized customs checkpoints for import and export goods; to continue to maintain operations of ICD My Dinh and North Hanoi Customs Branch at 17 Pham Hung until ICD Duc Thuong is completed and put into operation.

In addition, Ha Noi People's Committee has assigned agencies to implement solutions to facilitate import and export enterprises.

Specifically, the Department of Planning and Investment, the Management Board of Hanoi Export Processing Zone and Industrial Park promotes the provision of online services at level 4 for investment procedures and business registration; the Department of Industry and Trade effectively implements the project "Management and development of Logistics activities in Hanoi until 2025" and focuses on projects for import and export activities of goods, of which the investment policy is approved, and projects in which the investment policy is considered for approval; the tax department coordinates with agencies to develop inspection plans for enterprises to ensure compliance, and reduce inspection for each enterprise by the State management agencies in the same sectors.

In addition, Ha Noi People's Committee aims to propose to the Prime Minister a specialised facilitation mechanism for all ICDs, centralized checkpoints in Hanoi, allowing goods subject to go through customs clearance at entry border gates to implement customs procedures at customs branches managing ICD and centralized customs checkpoints managed by Ha Noi Customs Department.

Could you tell us about key issues conducted by Ha Noi Customs Department to facilitate enterprises and attract investment in the city?

As the leading department, Ha Noi Customs Department will actively deploy and closely coordinate with relevant agencies to implement the City’s plan.

Specifically, it proposes establishing a Trade Facilitation Committee of the city as per the proposal by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Committee includes the Vice Chairman of Ha Noi People's Committee as the head and representatives of agencies to take measures to facilitate import and export enterprises and attract investment to the city.

Effectively operate the VNACCS/VCIS and the National Single Window, the scheme of e-tax payment and customs clearance 24/7; e-customs fee payment; scheme on goods management and supervision at warehouses, seaports, airports and customs-controlled area.

Propose to equip facilities, techniques and use container scanners, electronic scales and e-seals. Thereby, shorten clearance time, reduce management costs and compliance costs for import-export enterprises. Effectively operate warehouses and sites in association with customs checkpoints. Support and develop customs brokers and logistics enterprises in the city. Coordinate with the city’s agencies and investors to remove difficulties, speed up the construction of warehouses and customs checkpoints.

Continue to implement a specialized mechanism to implement customs procedures at ICD My Dinh; advise the City People's Committee to coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to submit to the Government the amendment of Decision No.38/2017/QD-TTg, supplementing the implementation of a specialized mechanism at ICD Long Bien.

Hanoi Customs Department will implement solutions to facilitate its subordinate units through the Customs-Business partnership mechanism; consult and develop relevant legal policies during the implementation and propose to handle arising problems.

Promote the role of advisor on compliance with customs and tax procedures, especially for newly established businesses; and will be a focal point to receive feedback, exchange information with agencies, and report to the City People's Committee for settlement.

That is also the basis for Hanoi Customs Department to perform customs procedures for import and export enterprises in the city.