The dialogue event was held at the sub-regional level with the participation of businesses from 4 provinces and cities, including: Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Hung Yen and Quang Ninh.

Promoting the implementation of the agreement on "Economic Connectivity of the Eastern Expressway"

Previously, on July 28, 2022, 4 provinces and cities: Hai Phong - Quang Ninh - Hai Duong - Hung Yen and VCCI signed an agreement to connect the eastern highway; In the first stage, the connection focuses on 8 areas: Linking, promoting trade and investment; Links in traffic and logistics; Links in the manufacturing supply chain; Links in tourism and service development; Link to improve business investment environment; Link training and supply of human resources; Links in environmental protection; Links in agriculture and agricultural product processing and high-tech application.

Dialogue Conference on Overcoming challenges for business in import and export activities.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Mr. Hoang Quang Phong - Vice Chairman of VCCI said that today's dialogue conference aims to promote direct interaction and strengthen the cooperative relationship between the business community and the authorities related to import and export policies. The event also contributes to the realization of the goal of economic linkage developed by VCCI and the People's Committees of four localities in the agreement "Economic Connectivity of the Eastern Expressway". This is an important agreement to help promote the potentials and conditions of four localities located on the eastbound highway, from Hanoi to Hai Phong to Mong Cai border gate (Quang Ninh).

This linkage model will create a strong driving force for economic development, building a dynamic region and an attractive destination for both domestic and foreign investors. In that context, today's dialogue conference will promote the implementation of the agreement "Eastern Expressway Economic Connectivity" in 2023 with a focus on improving the business environment and promoting trade.

The Eastern Expressway Economic Connectivity Initiative aims to build a sub-regional linkage model, creating a new economic space with a favorable business environment, high economic growth and community, creating growth in the Red River Delta and the Northern region.

The model of connectivity is compact with only 4 provinces and cities, the scope is only economic, the first phase focuses on connecting, coordinating specific activities with the coordination of the Regional Council and the Secretariat, has meaning as a test to contribute to the implementation of Resolution 57/NQ-CP dated April 21, 2022 of the Government on tasks and solutions to perfect the institution of linking socio-economic regions.

Businesses are still facing many difficulties

Also at the event, Mr. Hoang Quang Phong - Vice Chairman of VCCI said that today's event will focus on solving difficulties for the business community in four provinces on the eastern highway including Hai Phong city, Quang Ninh province, Hai Duong province and Hung Yen province. With the large presence of central and local authorities as well as the participation of business associations and many businesses from four localities, we expect to have deep discussions to reflect the problems of import-export policy in practice. We are also waiting for reasonable proposals to solve the problem, thereby effectively supporting administrative reform and trade facilitation in the near future.

Mr. Hoang Quang Phong - Vice President of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry speaks at the dialogue conference

Mr. Tran Van Quan – Vice President of Hai Duong Provincial People's Committee said that in recent years, the Government and ministries have made a lot of efforts to simplify import and export procedures, remove tariff barriers and enhance transparency in trade policies, and at the same time establish mechanisms to solve business problems. But reality shows that the business community still faces many difficulties and obstacles in the process of implementing policies and procedures related to cross-border trade activities.

At the Dialogue Conference on Overcoming challenges for business in import and export activities today, I would like businesses to boldly express their views, clearly stating the difficulties and obstacles in their operations. import and export activities; What is the reason, due to cadres and civil servants or inadequate policy mechanisms... so that leaders of ministries, central branches, economic experts and VCCI leaders can discuss solutions to difficulties, help businesses facilitate import and export activities; create cohesion, promote partnership between government and businesses; strengthen the voice of enterprises in the process of advocating for trade facilitation policies.

On the side of Hai Duong, we are committed to creating the most favorable conditions for enterprises to research, invest and carry out production and business activities in the province, including import and export activities. In case there are difficulties and problems that are the responsibility of the Provincial People's Committee and departments, we are committed to directing and solving them as quickly as possible - Mr. Quan emphasized.

Mr. Tran Van Quan – Vice President of Hai Duong Provincial People's Committee

At the conference, Mr. Truong Duc Trong - Legal Department of VCCI raised some difficulties and problems of enterprises through 3 groups of issues.

The first problem is access to information, Mr. Trong said that about 38% of businesses still have difficulties in finding information about administrative procedures. In which, FDI enterprises, large-scale enterprises and long-term operating enterprises generally reflect that understanding administrative procedures is more difficult than other groups.

In addition, the issue of information transparency related to import-export policies and procedures still lacks a method of providing comprehensive, understandable and easy-to-use information. Lack of questions and answers on international trade issues. Difficulty looking up information and asking and solving problems on the national single-window portal.

The second group of problems is the implementation of customs procedures, Mr. Trong said, the level of convenience when complying with customs administrative procedures is quite different. Businesses are concerned about changing customs regulations. The long VAT refund period makes it difficult for many businesses, the inspection time is long, and the inspection content is overlapping. Enterprises often face obstacles at the pre-custom’s declaration stage for HS confirmation code and at the customs declaration stage with customs valuation.

The third group of problems about specialized inspection and management procedures, Mr. Trong said, the level of convenience when complying with specialized inspection procedures in the field of goods quality management is average. No procedure that received more than 70% was rated as relatively easy or easy to perform. For specialized inspection on food safety, Mr. Trong said that the percentage of enterprises that assessed compliance as similar or easy to implement was only 66% maximum. No process stage received 70% or more of business comments that the compliance was easy or relatively easy. The process of submitting the application for inspection registration is the step that businesses consider the easiest to follow in the four stages. While taking samples for testing is the most difficult stage for businesses. 59% of businesses have encountered at least some kind of difficulty in compliance with specialized audits…

Mr. Truong Duc Trong - Legal Department of VCCI

Mr. Trong also made some recommendations, some areas to focus on improving. For the Customs, it is necessary to improve the Customs legal system with stability, consistency, modernity, feasibility, publicity, transparency and accessibility. Harmonize customs procedures in accordance with international practices and standards. Synchronously apply modern customs management methods in handling procedures from customs declaration, clearance to post-clearance inspection...

For specialized inspection and management agencies, it is necessary to focus on improving troublesome areas and processes such as specialized inspection procedures, reviewing sampling activities because this is a business stage. often reflect difficulties. At the same time reduce the overlap in specialized testing. In particular, research to reduce the number of items and batches subject to specialized inspection, fully and substantively apply risk management principles, and review the overlapping points between legal regulations on specialized inspection. …

Besides, Mr. Trong also said that businesses need to learn and understand the current legal regulations and policies on import and export, etc. Enhance understanding of information technology to apply more effectively in carry out administrative procedures. Links and make effective use of Business Association channel.

Association's recommendations

Ms. Luong Thu Huong - Chairman of Hai Duong province's business association said that the import-export activities of many businesses still face many difficulties and obstacles, such as the specialized inspection in import and export of goods is still not quick, updating information not synchronized. For example, if you have paid taxes online, you must take a copy to submit to the customs office. The time of customs clearance inspection is still slow, affecting the quality of goods, especially agricultural products. Administrative procedures still have many points where there is no consensus among ministries, agencies, etc. Besides, logistics services do not have a comprehensive chain such as seaports, warehouses, and yards, so it is still complicated, not synchronized, goods must be refrigerated and have no storage space in the port area.

Ms. Luong Thu Huong - Chairman of Hai Duong province's business association

Regarding human resources, Ms. Huong said that most of them have not been trained in this field, drivers also need to be trained in basic knowledge in the process of transportation, delivery, etc. At that time, there were not many thematic courses for businesses wishing to plan to export goods such as: guiding the most basic process in the process of learning the market, local culture, customs procedures. administration, although businesses have actively studied through websites, documents, ... but there is also a need for specialized courses.

Therefore, in order to facilitate cross-border trade activities and help import-export businesses reduce difficulties, Ms. Huong suggested, ministries and sectors need to agree on guidelines and regulations so that import-export businesses can really only go through one door. at the same time further shorten the time for customs clearance inspection, specialized inspection, consider supplementing regulations under FTA commitments; continue administrative reform to minimize import-export administrative procedures, especially conditional permits that are not really necessary.

At the same time, it is proposed that VCCI and ministries and branches regularly strengthen policy training to update new policies and regulations for businesses; Improve the capacity and quality of the contingent of import-export customs managers and professional staff to minimize the bottlenecks and negatives in import-export activities.

Sharing the same opinion with Mr. Truong Duc Trong - VCCI Legal Officer, Mr. Le Manh Cuong - Permanent Vice Chairman of Hai Phong Logistics Association said that Vietnam has joined TFA since 2015. In recent years, ministries and sectors very actively reforming administrative procedures to facilitate trade, especially in the field of customs, issuing CO has helped businesses promote import and export. The Customs sector has strongly reformed to reduce administrative procedures to shorten the clearance time for typical shipments such as automatic clearance systems VNaccs/Vcis, VNSW, CO. Enterprises have also taken advantage of and grasped favorable policies to promote import and export.

Le Manh Cuong - Permanent Vice Chairman of Hai Phong Logistics Association

However, Mr. Cuong said, businesses still have some specific recommendations. That is, the national single-window system does not yet have the synchronous connection and data sharing of state management agencies. For example, an enterprise that declares phytosanitary procedures for import-export shipments on the national electronic portal (VNSW) when the quarantine agency issues a quarantine certificate, still has manual steps or is a business enterprise. The enterprise prints the certificate of quarantine and holds it for the Customs to see or notify by phone to the Customs officer to do the customs clearance operations for the shipment on the system at that time the declaration is cleared.

There are still many items subject to specialized inspection and there are also many items under the management of 2 or more ministries. Regarding specialized inspection procedures, import and export currently only have specialized inspection procedures in the field of food hygiene and safety according to Decree 15/2018/CP dated February 2, 2018 to apply the form of risk management, reduced inspection, normal inspection, and tight inspection. The recognition and recognition of the quality of foreign goods is still very limited. Basically, the current specialized inspection has not yet applied the mutual recognition, recognition of the quality of foreign goods, and the application of traceability in specialized inspection.

On the side of Quang Ninh, Mr. Nguyen Van The - Chairman of Quang Ninh Business Association said, Quang Ninh is a convenient province in terms of land, sea and air border gates, we can export and import goods. trade to many countries, but the Provincial Business Association still identifies the Chinese market as the main market for businesses in Quang Ninh province in general and the northern regions in the import and export of said goods. general and agriculture, land and fisheries in particular.

In order for cross-border trade to be highly effective, the Quang Ninh Business Association proposed, it is necessary to build a healthy and open business environment, continue to minimize unnecessary procedures, shorten trade and investment import and export procedures; encourage and develop enterprises to invest in cross-border import and export business.

Strengthening to shorten the implementation period of comprehensive digital transformation, stronger promotion of digital economy and e-commerce, in order to support import and export activities through e-commerce… thereby facilitating the import and export of enterprises and transparency in state administration and management.

The functional agencies actively propagate and promote products of the province and Vietnam to foreign markets, training enterprises participating in the export market not only for China but also in all countries which have signed a bilateral and multilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Vietnam because this is a potential and large market; it is a form of international association between countries in which categories of items are included in tariff reductions; having a roadmap to cut tariffs, move towards non-tariff, reduce or eliminate tariffs will be convenient and reduce costs for import-export businesses.