Vietnam Customs delegation attends the meeting. Photo: Thu Trang

Representatives of Vietnam Customs attended the meeting were Mr. Hoang Dinh Trung- Deputy Director of International Cooperation Department, Ms. Nguyen Thi Vinh Hoai-First Secretary-Vietnam Customs’ representative to Belgium, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Que, Head of Customs Control and Supervision Department, and Ms. Phan Thu Trang- officer of International Cooperation Department.

According to Mr. Hoang Dinh Trung, the PTC session is WCO’s important regular event with comprehensive contents related to procedures and trade facilitation; the implementation and review of international conventions, WTO TFA, WCO Framework of Standards, instruments and tools and guidelines; emerging issues attracting the attention of Customs administrations.

The approved contents at the PTC will be reported to the Policy Committee and to the Directors General at the Council meeting in June every year.

The WCO theme of “Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose” for 2024, delegates focused on discussing potential areas of economic cooperation between WCO and partners.

At the meeting, representatives of Management Committees of Kyoto Convention, ATA Convention, Istanbul Convention, SAFE Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade, working groups, projects of PTC discussed and provided guidance on building and updating tools in customs operations within the scope of PTC.

View of the 243rd/244th Session of the WCO's Permanent Technical Committee. Photo: Thu Trang.

The emerging areas were also discussed at the session as Digital Customs. Specifically, contents included identification number, research documents on the application of blockchain technology in Customs operations, Smart Customs projects, research on WCO's Data Strategy, Single Window, transit, e-commerce, amendments to documents guiding cooperation between the Customs and Port Management Authorities, implementation of the WTO TFA such as the cooperation with WTO and partners, Green Customs; strengthenning sustainable cooperation between the customs and the private sector; surveying customs clearance time; supporting and controlling for passenger; discussing new terms in the customs field.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Vinh Hoai-First Secretary-Vietnam Customs’ representative to WCO speaks at the 243rd/244th Session of the WCO's Permanent Technical Committee.

The meeting reviewed and approved the updated contents of the Woring Plan 2022-2025 and the contents discussed at the upcoming session.

Mr. Hoang Dinh Trung said that the discussed content at the session and key issues are of concern to Vietnam Customs such as Digital Customs, Smart Customs model, e-commerce and customs procedures. Notably, PTC Chairman and Vice Chairman were elected at the session. Accordingly, the representative of Vietnam Customs to WCO is proposed to hold the Chairman position.