Accelerate implementation of the National Single Window

After sea route, there will be many NSW procedures to be performed at road. In photo: Import-export activities at the Tan Thanh border gate, Lang Son. Photo: T.Binh.

An assessment of the number of procedures to be implemented in 2017, the Head of the ASEAN Single Window (ASW) Administration and Operation, Department of IT and Customs Statistics (General Department of Customs - Standing Agency of the National Steering Committee), Mr. Hoang Huy Hoang commented, this is a very large figure. Because from the pilot time (November, 2014) to the end of 2016, there were only 37 new procedures deployed nationwide. The latest procedure to be connected is the non-preferential certificate of origin, (C/O Form B) by VCCI conducted in December, 2016. Thus, in 2017, the number of procedures to be performed is greater than three times the performance results of the previous two years.

Of the 11 ministries participated to connect to the NSW (not including the Ministry of Finance), the Ministry of Transport has the largest number of connected procedures with 41; followed by the Ministry of Health (27 procedures); Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (18 procedures) etc. Meanwhile each of the State Bank, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), the Ministry of Public Security has only 1 procedure.

Mr. Hoang Huy Hoang said, in addition to expanding the number of procedures to be involved, in 2017, the National Steering Committee on ASW, NSW and trade facilitation has also directed units to focus on the issues of quality implemenrtation. Accordingly, the chosen procedures to be connected of the ministries should be prioritized for the procedures to be applied for many businesses and implementing profiles. For example, the procedures for providing the Import-export of industrial explosives license; Import-export of substances used in industrial license, or imported chemical notification procedures etc. of the Ministry of Trade; for the Ministry of Transport will be many important procedures, such as procedures for aircraft to arrive/depart from airports; aircraft transit procedures; licenses relating to the international multimodal transportation, particularly between Vietnam and Laos and Cambodia. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will connect additional procedures that affect many businesses such as quarantine procedures for imported animals; quarantine procedures for the import of animal products; and procedures related to the field of quarantine of aquatic areas, including quarantine procedures for fish, fishery products as the subject of temporary import for re-export, bonded warehouse, transit, transfering gate etc. In the field of Health, according to the plan, by 2017, the Ministry of Health will connect multiple procedures relating importation of functional foods, medical equipment etc.

Notably, at present, the General Department of Customs is drafting a directive by the Prime Minister on promoting progress and improving efficiency of implementing the NSW, ASW and trade facilitation. Under the direction of the Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue, and head of the National Steering Committee for the ASW, NSW and trade facilitation in the first quarter will have to complete the draft to submit to the Minister for signing and promulgating. Thus, this is the first time there is a directive of the Prime Minister concerning the implementation of the NSW, ASW. It is known that, the important content of the draft is being built as the Government and the Prime Minister requested the related ministries to strengthen their sense of responsibility in implementing the ASW, NSW and trade facilitation, thereby contributing significantly to the implementation of Resolution 19-2017/NQ-CP of the Government on the continued implementing of the tasks and key measures to improve the business environment, enhance national competitiveness in 2017, orientation to 2020. In particular it highlighted the role and responsibilities of the heads of ministries and agencies.

Some other notable points are that in 2017, the National Steering Committee requested the ministries, especially Standing Bodies, to strengthen communication on implementing the NSW, ASW and trade facilitation; regularly organizing the dialogues with the business community, building the Handbook for NSW, ASW and trade facilitation to spread widely in society etc.