Border gate planning: Issues for Lang Son

The project of the Dong Dang - Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone is being built in Phu Xa Commune, Cao Loc District, Lang Son Province. Photo: TL

A big step forward in the roadmap

Coming to Lang Son, many enterprises have not forgotten the fear of goods "back to schedule... congestion" occurring at the border gate area every season. However, in the past 2 years, Lang Son province has focused on developing and investing in infrastructure, transportation, wharves, and logistics services, helping import and export activities in the area to take place smoothly.

In particular, the Bac Giang - Lang Son expressway has been put into use, creating a new development space, helping Lang Son province make great strides in enhancing connectivity with provinces in the midland and mountainous regions of the North.

Considered as the "node" of economic exchange between many localities in the country and China through 2 international border gates (Huu Nghi International Border Gate, Dong Dang International Railway Station), 1 bilateral border gate (Chi Ma Bilateral Border Gate) and many other connecting border gates/openings, Lang Son province is encouraging the development of cross-border services associated with border gate economy.

The “push” for that transformation of Lang Son province must include Decision No. 236/QD-TTg dated March 19, 2024 of the Prime Minister approving the Planning of Lang Son province for the period 2021-2023, with a vision to 2050, setting out the orientation for the development of border gate economy and border gate economic zones (EZs) to continue to maintain its position as one of the provinces with important road border gates in the country.

In particular, Lang Son province has implemented the Smart Border Gate Project through expanding services provided for import-export activities in general and processing and trading of agricultural products in particular, creating momentum for economic sectors to develop cross-border services associated with the border gate economy. The highlight of this goal is the formation and development of large-capacity warehouses with diverse functions and import-export goods circulation processes at Huu Nghi international border gate, Dong Dang international railway station and Tan Thanh, Chi Ma, Binh Nghi border gates.

Talking to reporters of Customs Magazine, Mr. Ho Tien Thieu, Chairman of Lang Son Provincial People's Committee shared that Lang Son province is focusing on developing Huu Nghi international border gate into a model border gate applying high technology, a smart border gate, a typical border gate for Vietnam's road transport, bringing Dong Dang international railway station towards providing logistics services and smart, modern support services commensurate with the development of railway services in countries in the ASEAN region. Upgrading Chi Ma border gate into an international border gate and developing warehouses and logistics services for e-commerce; upgrading Binh Nghi border gate into a national border gate. In particular, turn Tan Thanh border gate area into a center for agricultural processing and consumption of agricultural products for Vietnam and ASEAN countries through agricultural product trading floors. Focus on developing Dong Dang - Lang Son border gate economic zone into a comprehensive economic zone, combining tourism development and other economic sectors.

Realizing the goals according to the roadmap, on June 14, 2024, Lang Son province officially started construction of VSIP Lang Son Industrial Park according to Decision No. 501/QD-TTg dated May 15, 2023 of the Prime Minister. The plan is that by the third quarter of 2025, phase 1 of the project will be completed and put into operation.

Need to promote existing potential

According to Mr. Nguyen Anh Tai, Deputy Director of Lang Son Customs Department, currently, the area manages 20 locations for gathering, inspecting and supervising import and export goods at 4 border gates; 3 bonded warehouses operating at Coc Nam border gate and Chi Ma border gate; 2 postal and express delivery warehouses and 2 duty-free shops at Huu Nghi international border gate; 2 cargo inspection locations at the foot of the construction site of Bao Long Company Limited and Dong Banh Cement Factory; 8 locations at Chi Ma border gate, 7 locations at Tan Thanh border gate, 4 locations at Coc Nam border gate, 2 locations at Huu Nghi international border gate.

Lang Son Customs Department assessed that infrastructure, traffic, yards, and logistics services in Lang Son province have been invested in and built to meet the connectivity requirements, contributing to promoting import and export activities. In particular, through reviewing and inspecting the business situation, enterprises operating warehouses and duty-free shops in the area all meet the regulations in Decree 68/2016/ND-CP amended and supplemented by Decree 67/2020/ND-CP.

However, when the requirements of import-export activities, the volume of means of transport, and import-export goods increased, some warehouses expanded their area. In particular, the enterprises expanded their area beyond the licensed area, or the warehouse enterprises did not arrange separate storage areas for import-export goods, transit goods, and backlog goods according to the provisions of Decree 08/2015/ND-CP... Notably, 5 locations for customs inspection and supervision at Po Nhung and Binh Nghi for 6 consecutive months had no activities of bringing goods in and out of the locations that were subject to temporary suspension of operations.

In fact, at Huu Nghi international border gate, currently every day Huu Nghi Customs manages and supervises 800-900 vehicles transporting complex import-export goods such as: electronic components, consumer goods, garments, machinery and equipment, e-commerce goods... Meanwhile, human resources; Information technology application tools, means, and inspection equipment are still lacking and not synchronized; data between parties is not shared...

Similarly, at Chi Ma, Tan Thanh border gates, Dong Dang and Coc Nam stations, human resources and equipment managed by the Customs agency are still thin and lacking... leading to many difficulties in implementing management and supervision of import and export vehicles, import and export goods and preventing crimes.

Therefore, with the characteristics of the border gate in Lang Son with a large volume of goods, especially agricultural products accounting for 90% and the number of means of transporting goods through the border gate is increasing, requiring fast customs clearance time, according to Lang Son Customs Department, in the coming time, prioritizing the addition of human resources, equipment, and synchronous infrastructure is extremely necessary to promote existing potential, effectively meeting the planning goals of Lang Son province's border gates.