Connecting IT systems for Customs supervision at Cat Lai port

Customs authorities discussed about depolying electronic Customs supervision at Cat Lai port in 266-12. Photo: Thu Hòa

Presenting in the early the morning for checking program deployment, leaders of HCMC Customs Department and Saigon Newport Corporation directed professional units to prepare each step to be ready for implementation. At 8 am, Customs officers of Saigon port area 1 Customs Branch stopped the professional work of confirmation in the surveillance area in order to run the new testing program.

In order to effectively implement the program, avoiding difficulty that affects cargo clearance process of enterprises, Saigon Newport Corporation and Saigon port area 1 Customs Branch have suggested many solutions to tackle incidents.

In that, for internet problems, there will be 2 lines run in parallel between the port system and the General Department of Customs system. When the main line is down, the technical team of the two parties will change IP of the host. During the deployment time, IT experts of FPT, General Department of Customs, Saigon Newport Corporation, and HCMC Customs Department will collaborate to directly handle in order to ensure the program runs smoothly.

According to Saigon port area 1 Customs Branch, currently, the Customs Branch does supervised confirmation for about 5,000 – 6,000 containers on average per day, it could reach 9,000 – 10,000 containers at the high peak.

Enterprises are waiting to get confirmed declaration that get through supervision area at Cat Lai port in December 26th 2016. Photo: Thu Hòa

Additionally, implementing Customs supervision for import – export goods under Article 41 of the Customs Law, enterprises don’t need to do goods confirmation passed the surveillance area, because all the confirming information is done on the electronic system by Customs agency and port enterprises.

Accordingly, for exported cargo container, if the declarations are eligible to move to the surveillance area, Customs officers will confirm on the list of eligible containers so enterprises put into the Registered ships Division - Saigon Newport Corporation to retain documents and transfer to the operations department to update on the system.

For imported cargo containers, the Saigon Newport Corporation will allocate staff to work with Customs officers in receiving the list of eligible containers to move to the surveillance area then move up to the operation room for updating.

According to the leader of HCMC Customs Department, the implementation of Article 41 of Customs Law and Decision No. 1500 /QD-TCHQ of the General Department of Customs at the seaport under enterprises management does not mean that the Customs agency hands over their responsibility to port enterprises. Actually, it is the change in the Customs management method from manual to electronic. Implementing this process is not only their responsibility but also in enterprises’ interest for establishing the plan and collaborating with Customs to deploy by following a schedule and deadline.

Representatives of Saigon Newport Corporation said that, the successful implementation of IT connection systems to perform Article 41 of the Customs Law at Cat Lai port continues to enhance the effectiveness of IT applications for freight forwarding activity, facilitate the business community, enhance the quality of port services, improve competitiveness, and raise the effectiveness and efficiency of the State management of Customs authorities.

According to the plan, from now till the end of December 31th 2016, the Saigon NewPort Corporation and Saigon port area 1 Customs Branch will run a testing program parallel with the current program process. From January 1^st 2017, the old program will be stopped; and the official Customs supervision program will run for import-export goods taken into custody and moved to the surveillance area at seaport under Article 41 of Customs Law.