Customs officers of Investment Customs Branch guided enterprises to carry out customs procedures. Photo: T.H

Partners join hands to develop together

In recent times, the HCM City Customs Department has implemented numerous initiatives to strengthen the customs-business partnership, yielding significant positive results. Deputy Director of HCM City Customs Department, Do Thanh Quang, emphasized that the department prioritizes business satisfaction as a key performance indicator, aiming for a collaborative approach based on mutual understanding, cooperation, and shared growth.

To achieve this goal, the department has issued annual implementation plans. Since 2016, the department has continuously promoted the initiative "HCM City Customs Department and Businesses as Collaborative Partners for Shared Development." The active engagement of both customs officials and businesses has fostered a close and increasingly robust relationship. Additionally, the department has organized and participated in nearly 200 conferences and workshops to provide customs law training, address business inquiries, and gather feedback on the development of legal documents and the application of information technology in import-export activities.

The consultative support provided by HCM City Customs to businesses has been highly appreciated. According to Tran Thi Khanh Vy, Chief of the Office of the HCM City Trade Promotion Center (ITPC), HCM City established a city government dialogue system in 2002, and HCM City Customs Department has been a highly active and effective participant. To date, the department has answered over 3,500 business inquiries and co-organized 66 direct dialogue conferences with businesses. Questions addressed by HCM City Customs Department account for approximately 20% of the total questions in the system. Furthermore, the department has collaborated with the dialogue system's steering committee to resolve issues for associations and foreign businesses in HCM City. Evaluation surveys have indicated that the Customs Department's responses are comprehensive and meet business needs.

From the perspective of port operators, Nguyen Van Tuan, Deputy Director of the Cat Lai Port Operation Center, Saigon New Port Corporation, shared that, with its extensive port system, Saigon New Port has consistently received timely support from the HCM City Customs Department, the General Department of Customs, and customs agencies at ports where Saigon New Port operates. In collaboration with the HCM City Customs Department, Saigon New Port has implemented various solutions to provide the best services for import-export businesses, including electronic customs clearance systems, trade facilitation projects at Cat Lai Port, and the resolution of cargo congestion. Notably, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the General Department of Customs and the HCM City Customs Department promptly implemented flexible solutions to clear goods and prevent congestion at Cat Lai Port.

Many associations wish to sign

Recognizing the significant benefits that customs authorities bring to businesses, several industry associations, including the Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACAS) and the Vietnam Pepper and Spices Association, have expressed a desire to formalize their partnerships with the HCM City Customs Department. By signing cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding, these associations aim to provide enhanced support to their member businesses in terms of customs procedures, guidance, and addressing new policy challenges.

Citing the substantial export volume of its members, the representative of the HCM City Foodstuff Association reported that as of July 15, 2024, businesses had exported over 48 million tons of rice, with a projected export of more than 25 million tons by the end of the year. This achievement is attributed in large part to the support provided by customs authorities. The association emphasized the need for closer cooperation between customs and industry associations to provide training on procedures and new policies to import-export businesses in the foodstuff sector. Furthermore, the association requested that customs authorities share information and data on rice exports to facilitate reporting and policy recommendations.

As a leading organization connecting businesses with the government, the representative of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) HCM City Branch highlighted the VCCI's role in coordinating with the Ministry of Finance, the General Department of Customs, and the General Department of Taxation to organize dialogue sessions with businesses. In HCM City, with its large number of import-export businesses, the VCCI HCM City Branch proposed signing cooperation agreements with local customs departments, including the HCM City Customs Department, to organize dialogue sessions with businesses and training workshops on customs procedures.

In addition to acknowledging the specific benefits, representatives from various associations and businesses also presented several recommendations to customs authorities regarding information reception and guidance, the timeframe for addressing business inquiries, and customs procedure training. These recommendations aim to further develop the customs-business partnership, making it more in-depth, practical, and relevant to current realities.