Building model customs for better business services

	Customs modernization to enhance the effectiveness of anti-smuggling
	Three strategic objectives of Customs Reform and Modernization for the period 2016 - 2020

Letter of thanks from FDI enterprise

In late July, 2016, Mr. Lee Soung Moo, Bumhyun Vietnam Co., Ltd. Director (District 9 HCMC) sent a letter of thanks to Mr. Hoang Viet Cuong - Deputy General Director of Vietnam Customs, Investment Customs Branch - HCM City Customs Department for instructing, and finding timely solutions, helping the Company to make contracts with foreign partners.

Earlier, Bumhyun Vietnam Ltd. had sent a petitionary letter to the Investment Customs Branch about not having a permit to open processed goods declarations. The reason was that the company had bought equipment from a Vietnamese enterprise which was having a dispute with the HCMC Social Insurance and had been asset restrained by District 9 Enforcement Departments... Therefore, some machinery and processing equipment of the company were listed as disputed and constrained property, which affected the implementation of processing contracts with foreign partners.

To solve the issue, Investment Customs Branch reported HCMC Customs Department leader to report to the General Department of Customs and raised leaders’ concerns to develop a solution for the enterprise to carry on its outsourcing contract...

The above issue is just one of the problems facing FDI enterprises problems, which have been addressed and dealt with immediately by Customs offices, in order to facilitate businesses. As a management unit, with experience serving more than 2,000 FDI enterprises, Investment Customs Branch is considered as one of the most experienced border gate customs units with a great deal of knowledge of best practice in reforming processes in supporting businesses. According to Mr. Vo Van Bong, Head of Investment Customs Branch, recently the Branch has actively organized working groups led by the Branch’s leaders working with companies which have large amounts of Imex turnover. In these meetings, Branch leaders listened and discussed the difficulties, problems and expectations of businesses, at the same time capture the real business situation, and their ability to contribute revenue in 2016. Working with businesses showed that businesses currently do not have big issues. However, businesses, are still looking forward to faster clearance of goods, also giving out some favorable proposals for the operations of company. Branch leaders exchanged, and provided specific instructions about import-export procedures in accordance with the authority and functions, and also committed to create the best conditions for businesses, provide best support on customs procedures for fastest customs clearance, and propose enterprises’ recommendations to higher level unit for consideration.

Re-organization and re-structure of Customs department in provinces and cities. VCN- In communication with the Customs Newspaper, Mrs. Pham Thi Thu Huong, Deputy Director of Personnel and ...

Recently the Investment Customs Branch has used e-mail to work with businesses, such as sending invitations; sending text, new policies, warning errors that are frequently made by enterprises during processing customs procedures. After a month of use, Branch has received positive feedback, FDI enterprises agree on exchanging information through electronic systems.

“By all measures, we will build a model Investment Customs Branch model under the motto "Professionalism, transparency, friendliness and facilitating enterprises" with only one goal: continue with security management, also creating the best favorable conditions for businesses in Imex performance”, stressed by Mr. Vo Van Bong, head of the Branch.

Expanding at the Department level

After implementing at Investment Customs Branch, lately HCMC Customs Department has entrusted Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs Branch with building a model branch.

According to Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs Branch leaders, currently the Branch has been managing the most immigration passengers of country, with over 222 flights, 31,000 passengers per day; diversified, complex export and import goods with high value, nearly 800 customs declarations each day. With the purpose of implementing state management of customs in the city, recently, the Branch has implemented many measures to reform, facilitate immigration passenger and Imex cargo. Accordingly, in working teams, beside having officers to instruct businesses, Branch leaders have directly met businesses and airlines to proactively capture and remove businesses’ difficulties.

Branch leaders and Internal Affairs Team regularly operate uscheduled checking of the implementation of regulations; discipline observance, uniform wearing, communication culture etc. of officers to promptly rectify any incorrect cases, while praising good practice.

In order to improve service quality, courteous attitude and business facilitation, Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs Branch is building a pilot model unit at the Exit Luggage Procedures Team and Entry Luggage Procedures Team. With specific geographical areas at Tan Son Nhat international airport, it’s very sensitive and important to determine the location and role of the Customs authority, therefore, officers’ spirit, attitude in service must be paid attention to in order to reduce business complaints about trouble, harassment and negative issues

To become a model customs unit, Mr Hoang Cuong, Deputy Director of General Department, head of HCMC Customs Department requires all HCMC Customs Department units to build specific projects and report to Department’s Leaders for evaluation and approval. Branches must review and re-evaluate the status of all current procedures, cooperation relationships, organizational models, infrastructure, information technology.... to find inadequacies, propose appropriate solutions, make the highest efficiency. Accordingly, Branch leaders should review working positions, evaluate and arrange appropriate positions which suit officers capacity. For training, beside professional training content, the Department also needs to organize training on communication and behavior skills for officers...

According to the HCMC Customs Department’s leaders, after building pilot model at Investment Customs Branch and Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs Branch, HCMC Customs Department will review and evaluate to expand the model at other branches in order to support enterprises’ export and import activities conveniently and professionally.