The Covid-19 pandemic has been complex and affected import and export activities, but thanks to its outstanding efforts, Long An Customs Department has stabilised cargo clearance activities of firms and increased revenue collection.

Customs officials of Binh Hiep international border gate (Long An) inspect exported goods.
Photo: T.D

To accompany with businesses

Deputy Director of Long An Customs Department Le Nam Quoc said to facilitate import and export activities, from the beginning of the year, the unit has implemented solutions for administrative reform and customs modernisation associated with business support solutions. In the context of complex development and unpredictable situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of infections in the area has increased rapidly, so the number of customs officials working in the customs branches had to reduce by 50% to ensure the implementation of social distancing.

Although reduced in number of officials performing task at customs branches, leaders of Long An Customs Department have directed to prioritise the receipt of customs declarations and process cargo clearance quickly and conveniently for businesses, avoiding causing interruption of production chains as well as export goods of firms. At the same time, recording the problems and difficulties of firms to promptly remove obstacles and create the most favourable conditions for firms.

The unit also works with departments, branches and local governments to review investment projects in industrial parks, economic zones and large projects outside industrial parks to guide and support investors in importing machinery, equipment and materials for the project. Thereby, closely following the plan, analysing and evaluating the factors affecting business activities of firms with large revenues to remove difficulties and obstacles, and facilitate import and export activities.

A representative of Minh Hung Co., Ltd. said despite being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the business production and clearance activities of the firm were basically stable and maintained many orders of export production. During the process of carrying out customs procedures at My Tho Port Customs Branch - Long An Customs Department, enterprises were always supported by the unit to quickly and promptly clear import and export shipments.

Nguyen Khanh Giang, Director of Phuc An Import-Export Transport Company, said the company exported about 500 containers of raw materials for the textile industry, beer, soft drinks, etc., through Binh Hiep international border gate every month, and the company was always facilitated by customs officials at the border gate to clear goods in a timely manner. In the early days of social distancing under Directive 16, it was difficult to transport goods through pandemic prevention and control checkpoints, container trucks arrived late, but customs authorities tried to clear goods for businesses to promptly deliver goods to their partners in Cambodia.

Budget revenue soars

With the spirit of maximum support for import-export activities, as of July 30, Long An Customs Department has carried out customs procedures for 1,230 firms, an increase of 10.7% in the number of firms. Total import-export turnover hit $7,459.8 million, up 36%, compared to the same period in 2020, in which, the import-export turnover of many taxable products increased with $1,128.65 million, up 77%. Chemical products increased by 68%; iron and steel increased by 96%; non-ferrous metals rose by 141%; vegetable oil was 136%; cotton fiber was 55%; plastics was 61%; petroleum products grew by 506%; textile materials, leather and footwear was 272%, paper was 47%, seafood 37%.

From the beginning of the year until now, Long An Customs Department recorded the result of the significant increase of revenue collection mainly came from the increase in the number of firms who were passing through the province carried out customs procedures. This is a positive signal but an unstable source of revenue. At the same time, this is the middle of the year, so enterprises increase the import of goods (machinery, equipment and raw materials) to maintain production and business activities for the year in the context of both anti-pandemic and business production.

As of August 10, Long An Customs Department has collected and paid nearly VND 3,598 billion to the State budget, reaching 104.3% of the target assigned by the Ministry of Finance (VND 3,450 billion), up by 92% over the same period last year. Notably, in Tien Giang province, revenue increased by 81%, topping VND 249 billion because of the increase in turnover and tax amount at the energy project of Tien Giang Wind Power Joint Stock Company and Me Kong Wind Power Joint Stock Company.

However, with the complex situation of the Covid-19 pandemic in the province, it will greatly affect State revenue collection in the last months of the year. It requires high efforts and determination from the unit in the situation that a number of businesses in the area are facing many difficulties and need the timely support of the units, including the customs authority.

Long An Customs Department will continue to carry out the reform of administrative procedures, customs modernisation associated with improving the management efficiency in task performance, receiving and resolving difficulties, obstacles and reflections of firms, both ensuring the requirements of pandemic prevention while maintaining the stability of the State management of customs; coordinating with banks to make electronic tax payment 24/7, ensuring taxpayers can pay taxes anytime and anywhere.

In parallel with business facilitation, Long An Customs Department will strengthen the fight against tax loss via customs supervision, inspection, post-clearance audit, and fight against smuggling and trade fraud. In particular, they will be focusing on strict control and promptly detecting and preventing the illegal transport of contraband into the country and goods infringing trademarks and intellectual property rights.