With convenient operations andborder gate infrastructure, as well asthe potential of developing trade and services, the border area of Binh Lieu in Quang Ninh province has changed.

Import-export activities through Hoanh Mo border gate, Quang Ninh. Photo: Q.Hung 

Uphold pandemicprevention

Along Highway 18C, reporters had the opportunity to visitHoanh Mo border gate (Binh Lieu district, Quang Ninh) in the early days of 2021. The paved road surface is no longer a hindrance to drivers when traveling on this route. Bridges and roads replace flood-resistant dams that can withstand cargo loads. Walking along the route, we enjoy the beauty of the white flowers.

Less than three hours by bus from Ha Long City, we were at Hoanh Mo border gate in the afternoon. Because of the strict Covid-19 pandemicprevention and control, all people passing through the border gate area must obey the pandemicprevention requirements, as well as the guidance of quarantine officers and border guards on duty. We are no exception. We are only allowed to do field work at the border gate, learn about import and export activities after fully implementing the personal information declaration, measuring body temperature, washing hands and wearing masks.

In the peak months of pandemic prevention and control, import and export activities were somewhat deserted, but in the last days of this year, the bustling atmosphere of import and export activities appeared.

This gives us a sense of economic recovery, as well as normality in the northeastern border of the country. Construction items such as interdisciplinary control houses, parking lots, inspection houses and warehouses are now invested and built, showing the rapid development of the border gate in recent years.

Import and export cargo yard are planned into separate areas with a capacity of up to hundreds of container trucks. Some areas are fitted with roofs that can be secured for loading and unloading goods in rainy and windy weather. In particular, customs management activities have been drastically reformed; all customs procedures from registration of declarations to customs clearance of goods through Hoanh Mo border-gate Customs Branch are electronic. Thanks to the deployment of VNACCS / VCIS System, businesses can make customs declaration "anytime, anywhere".

Hoanh Mo Customs is diversified and flexible with information "channels"
to propagate and support enterprises. Photo: Quang Hung

According to the statistics of Hoanh Mo border-gate Customs Branch, compared to 2019 and 2020, the volume of import and export declarations through the area increased significantly. Specifically, in 2020, the branch has resolved procedures for 2,671 declarations of 84 enterprises.That is, each month, more than 220 declarations are processed, an increase of 29.79% in declarations compared to 2019.

In the early days of 2021, on average, each day, the department handled procedures for 5-7 declarations. The main import and export goods are garment fabrics, consumer goods, food additives, ceramic tiles.These are the traditional items that contribute mainly to the unit's budget revenue. The increasingly bustling shipments, the gradually increasingimport and export goods are also a signal that the country's economy is regaining high growth momentum after the difficult days of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Import-export turnover increased

The efforts in reform and modernization of Hoanh Mo Customs officers and civil servants have contributed to the growth of import-export activities year by year. Enterprises do not have to come to carry out customs procedures, but only officers of the direct customs are rushing final procedures to clear the goods, thereby shortening the clearance time, saving costs and time for businesses and people.

Imported goods gathering yard at Hoanh Mo border gate. Photo: Quang Hung

Specifically, the number of declarations, import and export turnover through Hoanh Mo border-gate Customs Branch next year is usually higher than the previous year, Compared to 2017, the import-export turnover through the province only reachedUS$35.2 million, then in 2018 increased by 74% (reachingUS$61.39 million), in 2019 increased by 36.7% (reachingUS%83.95 million).

Notably, in 2020, facing difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the import-export turnover through this area increased by 17.2% (reaching US$98.45 million), 2.79 times higherthan in 2017.

Talking with reporters, Deputy Director of Hoanh Mo Border Gate Customs Branch Ngo Hong Hai said: Administrative reform, customs modernization, accompanying business support are considered key tasks of the unit. In which, the department has focused on effectively implementing the online public service system at level 3 and 4; 24/7 tax collection; deployment of positioning seal; implementing the ASEAN National and Single Window according to the roadmap of the General Department of Customs.

"Diversify andflexible channels of information to propagate and support businesses, especially creatively exploit the strengths of technology to improve the quality of business support, especially in conditions of social isolation due to the pandemic,” Mr. Ngo Hong Hai added.

In addition to the task of facilitating enterprises to participate in import and export activities, officials and employees of Hoanh Mo Border Gate Customs Branch also deployed creatively and flexibly in propaganda activities, mobilizing people not to participate in trading, smuggling or facilitating smuggling, actively denouncing crimes.

The Sub-Department has presided over and coordinated with local authorities to implement a program to mobilize border residents to sign commitments not to slaughter or illegally transport pork products across the border, contributing to prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic. The unit also coordinated to organize two conferences to propagate and disseminate the law for over 100 border residents of Dong Van and Hoanh Mo communes; as well as two Customs-Enterprises consultation conferences.

The continuous efforts of Hoanh Mo Customs officers and civil servants not only contribute to the completion of political tasks, but also encouragesmore investors and enterprises to import and export through the locality.