In the first two months of the year, the import and export activities of iron ore and wood sharply increased. This is a positive result, leading to the increase in import and export turnover and the revenue of the department atthe beginning of the year,Ha Tinh Customs Department reported.

Steel products at Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Iron and Steel Co., Ltd.
Photo: H.Nu.

Positive signal at the border gate

Contrary to the quiet atmosphere every year, after the Lunar New Year, the import and export activities at border gates in Ha Tinh province soared. According to statistics from Ha Tinh Customs Department, as of March 2, the department has processed for 2,367 customs declarations, an increase of 53.8% year-on-year with total import-export turnover of US$679.6 million, a surge of 49.8% year-on-year.

Thanks to thepositive signal from import-export turnover, Ha Tinh Customs' revenue in the first two months of the year reached VND1,033.69 billion, reaching 17.8% of the estimate in 2021 and increasing by 42.8% year-on-year.

Mr. Dao Chi Thanh, Head of Technical Division, Ha Tinh Customs Department, said that sincethe beginning of the year, the price of iron ore has increased, so it is possible that Formosa Ha Tinhwill import more goods to avoid price escalation.

In addition to the impact from the world market, the increase in revenue in the first months of the year results from the solutions deployed by the department.

Accordingly, one of the effective solutions that Ha Tinh Customs has been performed is to remove difficulties for businesses. At the same time, Ha Tinh Customs is focusing on reforming and simplifying administrative procedures, creating favorable conditions for import and export activities. Typically, to remove difficulties for businesses importing wood from Laos to Vietnam, Ha Tinh Customs Department has worked with businesses to instruct customs declarations according to the GovernmentDecree 102/2020/ND-CP.

Customs operation at Cau Treo International Border Gate Customs Branch.
Photo: H.T

The above results stems from the positivity from the business community. Accordingly, Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Iron and Steel Co., Ltd has increased the import of iron ore for production, so the State revenue cross Vung Ang Customs Department has surged.

The import and export activities at Cau Treo International Border Gate have also increased, especially in the entry borer gate. The volume of means of transport has soared, leading to congestion and affecting customs clearance of businesses.

Director of Cau Treo International Border Gate Customs BranchLe Dung said that in 2021, the branch was assigned VND150 billion. This is the highest revenue level in the past 20 years. To complete the targets, from the beginning of the year, the branch has deployed solutions at all stages from procedures, tax collection, inspection, supervision, control, risk management, anti-smuggling, trade fraud. Bycreating a favorable environment, the branch has attracted more businesses to import and export procedures to increase its revenue.

Since the beginning of the year, the Cau Treo International Border Gate Customs Branch has attracted 62 businesses to participate in import and export procedures, an increase of 51businesses year-on-year. Of which, there are businesses that have carried out customs procedures in other branches and businesses that arenewly participatingin import and export activities. As of March 2, the branch also collected VND75.3 billion, reaching 50.2% of the estimate in 2021 and three times higher than the same period in 2020.

Drastically provides solutions 

According to Deputy Director of Ha Tinh Customs DepartmentDinh Van Hoa, in 2021 the department is assigned the budget revenue estimate of VND5,180 billion. However, as the Covid 19 pandemic hasa great influence on import and export activities, this is a difficult task. Therefore, from the beginning of the year, Ha Tinh Customs Department has promptly taken measures for revenue collection.

Accordingly, the Department has allocated the revenue estimates to each unit and issued a plan to implement the tasks and solutions for revenue collection in 2021. It also requires the units to actively publicize and facilitate maximum customs clearance for businesses in carrying out import and export procedures.

Hoa said that in addition to implementing solutions to facilitate import-export activities and investment activities in the area, the department is focusing on strictly controlling and promptly detecting fraud on quantity, category, taxable price, tax rate and origin of goods. At the same time, enhancing the efficiency of specialized inspection, post-clearance audit to prevent revenue loss and increase state budget revenue.

In recent years, in the customs management area of ​​Ha Tinh Customs, in addition to the large revenue from Hung Nghiep Formosa Iron and Steel Co., Ltd., in 2021, Ha Tinh Customs expects to have more revenue from import and export if the Vung Ang 2 Thermal Power Plant project, Ky Anh MK Wind Power Project is deployed and put into operation.

Director of the Cau Treo International Border Gate Customs Branch Le Dung saidthat the turnover across the area in the first months of the year mainly increased in the import sector. In the first two months of the year, import turnover reached more than US$44 million, an increase of 55% year-on-year. This year, iron ore products are actively exploited and transported from Laos to Vietnam. In addition, the Lao Government has loosened the wood export policy, creating conditions for businesses to continue importing this item from Laos to Vietnam. In addition to the two items with an increasein turnover, Laos beveragesand riceare also the items that bring in a high turnover.