About 800 import and export businesses in Binh Duong affected by Covid-19 pandemic

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	Exports face difficulties because of Covid-19

Centralised inspection site by container scanners at Song Than Customs Branch is available 24/7.

In particular, most businesses have orders cancelled andseen reduced productivity due to a lack of raw materials, difficulties in transport and a reductionin consumption markets

From March 31 to April 5, in Binh Duong Customs Department, 155 businesses had orders cancelled and face reduced productivity; 21 businesses suspended operation for one week or more; 18 businesses must fireemployees, raising the total number of businesses damaged by the Covid-19 pandemicto hundreds. From the beginning of the pandemicuntil now, about 800 businesses have been affected.

These impacts also made exports in Binh Duong province plummet. As noted, from March 31 to April 5, exports decreased 16.32%. Taxable turnover decreased significantly during the week, so the import-export turnover decreased and tax revenue waslower than the last week (down 33.5%).

Due to the impact of the pandemic, the import and export turnover rate over the same period last year still tended to decrease (last week, it increased by 6.79%, this week, it increased by 4.91% only). Similarly, taxpaid to the State budget only increased by 1.24%, while last week, it increased by 1.29%. The main reason for this decrease is that this week, 47 businesses decreased sales due to the contracting domestic consumption market.

To overcome and limit the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, Binh Duong Customs Department has implemented many positive solutions to support import and export activities, especially during social distancing.

Binh Duong Customs Department continues to monitor and understand activities of businesses to assess the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic onimport-export activities and budget collection. Customs branches have always arranged enough customs officers to support customs clearance for businesses.

At the same time, the unit has always monitored, followed closely and understood the operations and impact level of each businesses to have timely solutions to addresstheirdifficulties as well as prevent taking advantage of difficult situations for trade fraud, smuggling, running away andmissing.

Binh Duong Customs Department has also deployed customs clearance at two centralised inspection sites equipped with 24/7 container scanners to quickly clear import and export goods for businesses. Director of Song Than Customs Branch, Huynh Van Ut said the unit arranged customs officers on duty 24 hours a day to ensure clearance of goods for businesses as quickly as possible. From the beginning of 2020 to April 8, the branch has scanned 2,491 containers belonging to 1,659 import and export declarations.

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In addition, to remove difficulties for businesses, Binh Duong Customs Department has reported and proposed the General Department of Customs and Ministry of Finance allow businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemicto extend the payment of import tax for60 days from the date of customs clearance for the customs regime of importing raw materials for good production, if these businesses meetconditions on production facilities and abide by the customs law.