Customs sector: Administrative reform to accompany with businesses

	In 2017: Customs sector successfully completed many tasks assigned
	The Customs strives to exceed 3-5% of revenue target in 2018
	The reform of the Customs sector is increasingly facilitating business

Customs operation in container scanner center in March 2017. Photo: T.B

Comprehensive deployment

All Customs procedures have been carried out automatically at high level, except for the Customs procedures for small-volume trade at border gates. At the border gates (seaports, airports, land border gates), the Customs has deployed the scanner system for imported and exported goods; step by step exchanged information by e-mode with port, warehouse operators and importers and exporters to inspect and supervise effectively. Also, the Customs has strengthened the inspection and supervision for the duties performance of Customs officers to take measures to correct and overcome the problems complained about by businesses.

Especially, in order to achieve the target in the “plan on Customs reform, development and modernization for 2016-2020” of the Ministry of Finance, the Customs sector has drastically reformed and modernized in all stages, from building provisions, policies and law to handling administrative procedures and IT application.

The Customs has focused on improving Customs policies, especially key documents which have a great impact on the business community towards commercial facilitation and efficiency of Customs management. The General Department of Vietnam Customs has operated the online public service system well since 1st March 2017 for almost all Customs key procedures at level 3 and level 4. The Customs supervision and management for goods at seaports, airlines and goods transported independently, processed goods, export production, goods in transit have also been supervised by modern tools, contributing to enhancing efficiency of Customs supervision and reducing human resource and promptly detecting violations.

The representative of Legal Department (under the General Department of Vietnam Customs) said that currently, the Customs has fully deployed contents of administrative procedures under the Government’s Resolution 30c/NQ-CP. According to the doing business report from the World Bank in 2017, the Customs clearance time for Vietnam’s imported goods at border gates reduced by 6 hours, cost for carrying out import procedures at border gates reduced by US$ 19, Vietnam’s business environment in 2107 ranked 68/190 (increasing 14 places compared to the previous year and the fourth in ASEAN region followed by Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia). This showed that the target and tasks on administrative reform and implementation of Resolution 19-2017/NQ-CP, Resolution 35/NQ-CP for Customs sector have basically met requirements, thereby, continuously facilitating import and export businesses in carrying out Customs procedures and reducing input cost for businesses.

However, the tasks set out in the Customs modernization requires the entire Customs sector to continue administrative procedure reform to create a fundamental change in the Customs management, thereby, helping the Customs to really become the companion with businesses.

Drastically implementing in stages

With the determination to simplify Customs procedures strictly, the representative of Legal Department said that from the beginning of 2018, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has issued the plan on administrative reform in 2018. The plan focuses on 7 tasks, including institutional reform; administrative procedure reform; organizational structure reform; developing and improving qualification of cadres, civil servants and staff; public finance reform; modernization of administrative procedures; instruction and management on administrative reform.

In which, the Customs will review the Customs law system to identify documents which need to be amended and supplemented and newly issued to meet requirements on Customs management and improvement of Customs law system. Focusing on improving Resolutions, Decisions to report to the Government, and comparing with the practical and integration requirements to propose for Customs administrative procedures reform. Accelerating the administrative reform in a simple, transparent and unified manner in line with international Customs standards and creating more favorable conditions for export and import activities.

Determining to electronize all Customs procedures; reviewing and improving Customs law system; Promoting propaganda and providing information on Customs law to support for import and export businesses, Customs declarants and Tax payers.

Specially, publicizing transparently administrative procedures in Decrees, supplementing and amending to specify provisions and measures for implementing Customs law on Customs procedures, inspection, supervision and control. Implementing well the Government’s Decree, amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decrees related to administrative procedures control; assessing effects of administrative procedures; publicizing transparently administrative procedures; inspecting the control for administrative procedures in the entire Customs sector.

The Legal Department representative said that Customs is striving to build a modern Vietnamese Customs with sufficient and transparent policies and mechanisms, simple and harmonious Customs procedures reaching international standards based on IT application, centralized data processing and wide application of risk management methods, reaching a level equivalent to those applied in advanced Southeast Asian countries; building a professional and specialized Customs force with modern equipment and techniques, contributing to facilitating import and export activities.

Collaborating with ministries and sectors in completing conditions on technical infrastructure, legal frame work to deploy 130 administrative procedures registered by 2018; Implementing Aviation National Single Window mechanism; deploying nationwide procedures for ships in and out of seaports, inland ports and offshore oil ports. Preparing for official exchange of e-C/O form E with 3 ASEAN countries, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia since 1st January 2018; Piloting the exchanging ASEAN Customs declaration document (ACDD); preparing necessary conditions for the connection and exchange of electronic Phyto-sanitary certificates (e-Phyto) with ASEAN countries, the first country is Indonesia.

Continuously collaborating with specialized management ministries to implement solutions to enhance efficiency of the implementation specialized inspection procedures (single window mechanism) at specialized inspection check points which are established at border gates (Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Lang Son, Ha Noi, Đa Nang, Ho Chi Minh city, Lao Cai, Quang Ngai). Focusing on piloting specialized inspection for some commodities at Customs offices.

Deploying and operating effectively the National Trade Information Portal, meeting key commitments in the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation, and serve as a useful tool to support business communities in export and import activities.