Bac Ninh Customs reduce impact of Covid-19 pandemic on revenue collection

Professional activities at the Bac Giang Industrial Parks Customs Branch (Bac Ninh Customs Department) on the morning of May 25. Photo: Đỗ Hưng

Ensure smooth operation

Talking to reporters, Director of Bac Ninh Customs Department Tran Thanh To said during the complex development of the pandemic, the unit directed affilated customs branches to implement anti-pandemic measures. In particular, closely following the pandemic situation to implement appropriate prevention and control plans, try not to affect businesses’ operations.

“To ensure smooth operation as well as avoid interruption, Bac Ninh Customs Department has developed a plan to prevent and control the Covid-19 pandemic. The unit has mobilised more than 20 customs officials working in the office to take over the tasks in case there was a case of Covid-19 infection at the branches to ensure professional operation, avoiding causing interruption to the activities of firms engaging in import and export activities in the area," Tran Thanh To said.

Bac Ninh Customs Branch is the unit that generated the first case of Covid-19 infection at Bac Ninh Customs Department. Since mid-May, this unit has applied anti-pandemic prevention plans to ensure the smooth operation of all professional activities.

Therefore, Bac Ninh Customs Branch has arranged four customs officials from the General Affairs Team to the Professional Team to handle procedures for businesses; received two customs officials (belonging to the Post-Clearance Audit Sub-Department - Bac Ninh Customs Department) to be strengthened at the branch. At the same time, for businesses that come to work at the headquarters, the branch arranged a desk to receive dossiers and officials will disinfect documents before receiving them.

At Bac Giang industrial park Customs Branch, this is the second unit under the Bac Ninh Customs Department to record Covid-19 infections.

On May 24, the People's Committee of Bac Giang province established a medical isolation area at the Bac Giang industrial park Customs Branch (addressed at Lot D10, Dinh Tram Industrial Park, Viet Yen district, Bac Giang province). The time for implementing medical isolation was from 0:00 on May 22, 2021 until there was a new announcement.

Talking to reporters, the leader of the Bac Giang industrial park Customs Branch said all activities at the unit were still operating smoothly. To ensure pandemic prevention, all officials and employees have been required to strictly follow the instructions of the Ministry of Health, the General Department of Vietnam Customs, Bac Ninh Customs Department and anti-pandemic prevention developed by Customs Branch. All customs official, after completing the medical isolation period voluntarily continued to perform isolation at the unit for a week.

“Firms highly appreciate the anti-pandemic prevention plan implemented at the affiliated customs branches. Customs authorities made efforts to handle procedures, try to not let the situation of backlogged declarations on the system, ensuring the goods are cleared on the same day, creating all conditions for businesses to participate in import and export activities," To said.

Revenue collection soars

According to Bac Ninh Customs Department, as of May 15, revenue collection through the customs branches of Bac Ninh, Tien Son, Yen Phong, Bac Giang and Thai Nguyen all increased higher than the same period in 2020. Yen Phong industrial park’s Customs branch collected more than VND 804 billion, an increase of 92.95%; Bac Giang industrial park Customs branch achieved more than VND 784 billion, rising by 91.92%, Bac Ninh Customs branch collected more than VND 1,037 billion, growing by 12.83%.

According to a representative of Bac Giang industrial park Customs branch, the reason for skyrocketing revenue collection is that there are more firms doing customs procedures in the area and to increase revenue source, the unit has implemented many solutions to remove difficulties and facilitate the operation of import-export firms in the area. The unit has deployed problems solving by group of businesses and types of import and export.

“The soaring revenue collection through the unit could be explained that, in the first months of the year, a number of taxable export products had been registered to implemented procedures through the unit; changes in business strategies of firms. For example, Samsung had a policy of importing and selling products such as air conditioners, televisions and some cheap smartphone products," To explained.

According to Tran Thanh To, as of May 20, State revenue at the unit reached nearly 48% of the target assigned in 2021 (VND 9,390 billion). This result demonstrated the efforts of customs officials in the department, especially during the complex development of the Covid-19 pandemic.