Risk assessment has achieved positive results and enhanced the efficiency and role of risk management in customs control. Customs News had an interview with Deputy Director of Risk Management Department Ho Ngoc Phan about this issue.

Deputy Director of Risk Management Department Ho Ngoc Phan. 

How is the information exchange between the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) and local customs departments in risk assessment implemented? 

The Risk Management Department is the leading department of the GDVC on risk assessment, including information exchange with local customs departments.

The department has set up a system to provide information from the general department level to local customs departments and vice versa in a timely and accurate manner.

At the same time, in the process of professional exchange, if problems arise, they will be promptly reported to leading units for handling. The information technology platforms are also widely applied in this work to ensure smooth operation.

Could you tell us about the role of risk assessment in risk management?

Risk assessment is a key operation in risk management. The work helps the customs authority identify entities and areas with high risks on customs offences. Customs will take measures to prevent and handle risks effectively, enhancing the efficiency of customs control.

In addition, Customs will identify entities and areas with low law compliance, taking measures to improve the compliance level of the declarants and business community.

The department has mobilised all resources to perform this work, contributing to enhancing the efficiency of the risk management.

In the first half of 2021, the number of scanned containers doubled, suspicious containers increased four times and violations increased 1.75 times compared with the same period in 2020.

The department has sent the Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department eight intelligence and detected a huge volume of undeclared conditional imported goods at Da Nang Port.

The department provided intelligence related to banned goods imported from Canada to Cai Mep Seaport Customs Branch.

Criminals often change methods and tricks. What has the department performed to improve the efficiency of risk assessment?

The department has determined that risk assessment is a regular task because the methods and tricks of criminals are increasingly sophisticated. The department will focus on the following solutions:

First, the Risk Management Department continues to improve the risk assessment process, and specify the functions and authority of each level to perform uniformly across the country.

Second, the department improves officers and assigns highly skilled officers to perform risk assessment.

Third, it focuses on collecting and handling input information for risk assessment, especially information provided from other agencies.

Fourth, the department makes plans for automated risk assessment and the application of artificial intelligence in the identification of high-risk entities and areas towards launching the smart customs model.

Fifth, the department continues to monitor and inspect the performance of local departments.