By the end of October 25, Nghe An Customs Department collected and paid VND891 billion to the state budget, only reaching 49.5% of the assigned target.

Operations at Vinh Customs Branch (Nghe An) Photo: Nhu Trang

Speaking to Customs Newspaper, Mr. Chu Quang Hai, Director of Nghe An Customs Department, said that in the first ten months of the year, import-export activities in Nghe An province took place quietly, with only 327 enterprises carrying out customs procedures, 25,930 import and export declarations and an import-export turnover of over US$1,355.6 million. The major export items included white limestone powder, granular clinker, cement, mobile phone speakers, processed garments.Major imports included machinery, oil, coal, plastic resin, electronic components, vegetable oil, refined palm oil and materials for garment processing. Imports and exports were mainly from China, Korea, Japan, India, Bangladesh and ASEAN countries.Affected by the pandemic and world situation

Although the number of declarations and import-export turnover increased, the budget revenue until October 25 reached only VND891 billion, just 49.5% of the estimate (VND1,800 billion), a sharp decrease compared to the same period in 2019. The reason was that the pandemic had a significant impact on the supply of imported raw materials for production; and machinery and equipment imported for investment projects. In particular, the world gasoline price reach a low level and the domestic demand for gasoline also declined, so imports of this product also saw a sharp decrease.

Hai said that gasoline was a key product that often contributes up to 25% of the state budget revenue of Nghe An Customs Department because the Vietnam National Petroleum Group and ThienMinh Duc Group Joint Stock Company often carry out customs procedures in the area. However, presently, because Nghi Son petroleum plant is in operation and producing products, this item is not imported through Cua Lo port. Although Thien Minh Duc Group Joint Stock Company still maintained import volume, the world gasoline price dropped by more than 50%, so the state budget revenue from this item also fell.

Moreover, major investment projects such as Darkrong hydropower project, the project of Tan Thang Cement Joint Stock Company and the investment project of Nui Tien Purified Water Co., Ltdhave been put into operation so they no longer import machinery.

New projects are being implemented, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the progress of implementation and import of machinery and equipment is slow and interrupted. In addition, the logistics service in Nghe An has not yet developed, so many enterprises choose to do customs procedures at big border customs units such as Hai Phong, Nghi Son (Thanh Hoa), Vung Ang (Ha Tinh), which is also an important factor affecting the budget revenue of the unit.

Vinh Customs Branch – a unit which contributed over 50% of the department’s revenue – is also facing many difficulties. Tran Quang Minh, Manager of Vinh Customs Branch, said that until October 25, the branch only collected VND538 billion; reaching 60% of the assigned target (VND895 billion). Vinh Customs Branch’s revenue mainly depends on import tax collected from machinery and equipment of investment projects. However, imports of these items in the first ten months fell considerably.

Maximize facilitation to enterprises

Mr. Chu Quang Hai said to promote import-export and state budget collection, in the last months of the year, the department will continue to implement many solutions to maximize facilitation for enterprises to participate in import and export activities.

In particular, the unit will actively disseminate policies and laws related to import and export activities, tax administration of the State to the business community; actively meet and promptly solve problems arising within their competence related to customs procedures, tax policies, tax administration, accounting regimes, tax refunds, tax exemptionsand remove difficulties and create favorable conditions for enterprises in the customs clearance process. In particular, the department will evaluate import-export activities and the budget collection situation to implement measures to collect budget revenue at the highest level.

In addition, theunit will also actively coordinate with the tax sector, the treasury and other sectors and agencies to speed uprevenue management, launch electronic tax collection and customs clearance 24/7, strengthen inspection to combat revenue loss and work with departments, agencies and local authorities to review investment projects to actively guide and support investors to import machinery, equipment and materials for the projects.

Nghe An Customs Department has also taken drastic measures to combat revenue loss through price, quantity, HS code and origin of goods at the customs clearance stage; intensify on-site inspections of the implementation of operational processes by civil servants, promptly detect and strictly handle individuals who do not comply with regulations, causing tax revenue losses or trouble.