ASEAN Customs administrations need to implement initiatives on Green Customs, and enhance connectivity within ASEAN: DG Nguyen Van Can

	Opening of the 33rd ASEAN Directors-General of Customs Meeting
	Enhance multilateral diplomacy of Vietnam Customs

Director General of the General Department of Vietnam Customs Nguyen Van Can gave an opening speech at the meeting. Photo: Tran Anh

According to Director General Nguyen Van Can, the 33rd ADGCM is held in the context of the ASEAN region recovering significantly in terms of trade, services, attracting investment capital, and tourism. In 2023, the ASEAN economic picture showed positive signals, with ASEAN’s gross domestic product (GDP) growing by 4.3% (according to the ASEAN Secretariat), higher than the global average of 2.7% (according to the United Nations).

In addition, ASEAN Customs has emerged as a bright spot in customs cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Regarding customs cooperation, our bilateral and multilateral partners continue to value and support the role of ASEAN Customs.

“We are pleased to see that ASEAN Customs do not have much difference in approach. The difference in development and modernization levels is reduced by the trust, constructive spirit, consensus, support, and goodwill of ASEAN Customs Administrations”, the Director General said.

At this Meeting, we will discuss the inheritance and continuation of the achievements of the 32nd Meeting held in Thailand and decide on the direction of customs cooperation in the coming time, especially the orientation for the Strategic Plans of Customs Development for the period 2026-2030.

ASEAN Customs will together continue overcoming difficulties and challenges caused by pandemics and natural disasters, to recover the economy, affirming the determination of ASEAN Customs to strengthen cooperation, conveying a positive message about a cohesive ASEAN Customs community as an annual priority of ASEAN in 2024.

ASEAN Customs is determined to work together to achieve the goal of further facilitating the ASEAN Single Market and Production Base, serving the interests of a community of nearly 700 million people, enforcing border control, actively contributing to the completion of the objectives of the ASEAN Economic Community and fully integrating into the global economy.

Director General Nguyen Van Can addressed the meeting. Photo: Tran Anh

The Director General emphasized that in realizing the goal of facilitating intra-ASEAN trade as well as with important partners in the region and the world, ASEAN Customs have implemented a roadmap to harmonize common customs procedures, adopt a common tariff nomenclature, build and operate the ASEAN Single Window to exchange electronic C/O form D, ASEAN Customs Declaration Document, expand the exchange of trade documents with non-ASEAN trading partners, operate the ASEAN Customs Transit System and begin to implement the Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Authorized Economic Operator.

These achievements have contributed to increasing intra-ASEAN trade by dozens of times and trade with partners to 3.8 trillion US dollars, making ASEAN the 5th largest economy in the world, accounting for 3.6% of global GDP.

In addition to the goal of facilitating trade, the task of controlling and combating smuggling and trade fraud to ensure the flow of legitimate trade is equally important.

With this common awareness, ASEAN Customs have effectively conducted operations to control goods at risk of trade fraud and affecting the safety and security of the community. In particular, ASEAN Customs initially implemented the Joint Customs Control Program, thereby improving the effectiveness of information sharing through the ASEAN Alert Notification System.

He believes that in the coming period, ASEAN Customs need to focus on implementing initiatives on Green Customs, enhancing connectivity and sharing intelligence so that control work can be carried out more effectively, not only within ASEAN but also in coordination with dialogue partners.

Together with ASEAN Customs, Viet Nam has also made efforts to effectively implement initiatives and commitments to realize ASEAN’s common goals.

Accordingly, Viet Nam Customs is determined to implement the Digital Customs and Smart Customs development strategy.

He also believes that a modern customs management model, applying new technology such as AI and blockchain, is not only the goal of Viet Nam Customs but also of the Customs Administrations of ASEAN Member States.

The Director General said that as the saying goes, if you want to go far, go together. Now is the time for ASEAN Customs to make joint efforts for a new journey with further goals in Integration and Connectivity, contributing to Creating a comprehensive and sustainable future economy and Transforming for the digital future as stated in the Joint Statement of the 11th Meeting of the ASEAN Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors.

As Chair of the 33rd ADGCM, Vietnam Customs will actively promote and perform the role of connecting Customs Administrations of Member States to continue implementing and completing important ASEAN customs cooperation initiatives so that the ASEAN Customs Community can go further together, for the goal of building a cohesive ASEAN Community and demonstrating the important role and position of ASEAN for peace, security and prosperity of the region.

He wishes the 33rd ADGCM great success, continuing to bring the ASEAN customs cooperation progress to new achievements in facilitating regional trade, while ensuring proper border control, contributing to the successful completion of the goals of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.