Developing Hai Phong as a key logistics center

	Hai Phong Customs Department collects VND145 trillion in two consecutive years
	Hai Phong Customs Department, Da Nang Customs Department cooperate to facilitate import and export
	Hai Phong Customs Department processed about 140,000 declarations in January

Vice Chairman of Hai Phong City People's Committee Le Khac Nam spoke at the Conference. Photo: T.Binh.

Supporting enterprises

The conference was attended by Vice Chairman of Hai Phong City People's Committee Le Khac Nam, and representatives of more than 300 major import-export enterprises, business associations, logistics associations, and port operators.

Speaking at the conference, Director of Hai Phong Customs Department Nguyen Duy Ngoc said that motivated by the goal of developing the Customs-Business partnership in an effective manner, the department has made great efforts and focused on implementing customs reform and modernization, IT application risk management in all areas to facilitate and reduce customs clearance time and costs for enterprises.

The department has also diversified methods of gathering feedback from enterprises to resolve and propose competent authorities to provide solutions to remove problems and support enterprises to restore and promote and build a transparent, equal and favorable investment and business environment, contributing to improving competitiveness.

“In the spirit of listening, understanding, sharing, cooperation, facilitation and providing practical solutions, Hai Phong Customs has comprehensively changed the perception of customs officers about the partnership between Customs and the business community, considering the business as the partner. In addition, the motto "enterprise-centric approach" becomes the consciousness of each officer, contributing to improving the level of satisfaction of the business with the performance of the Customs,” Director Nguyen Duy Ngoc said.

Director of Hai Phong Customs Department Nguyen Duy Ngoc spoke at the Conference. Photo: T.Binh.

The theme of this year's conference is "Joining hands to support businesses for sustainable development", the Department wishes to accompany businesses to discuss and solve difficulties and obstacles related to policies and institutions that affect production and business activities.

The department also offers solutions to facilitate, support and promote the sustainable development; proposes leaders of Hai Phong City People's Committee solutions to promote the city's competitive advantages in the field of seaport and logistics services, and focuses on developing high-tech industry and implementing digital transformation.

“Hai Phong Customs Department is always ready to listen and respond to proposals and recommendations of the business community," said the Director.

Regional and world-class logistics center should be built

Representatives of businesses speak at the Conference. Photo: T.Binh.

Besides high appreciation of the reforms and facilitation of Hai Phong Customs, many businesses proposed macro issues with Hai Phong City, which focused on developing the city as a regional and world-class logistics center.

Hai Phong is one of the few localities in the country that has all types of transport (sea, air, land, rail and inland waterways), but the development is still limited and sees a lack of connection.

Mr. Tran Tien Dung, Chairman of Hai Phong Logistics Association, said that to promote the potential and advantages of logistics, it is necessary to create synergy to develop the Hai Phong port area into an international gateway port under the plan and goals set by leaders.

One of the important matters is that the city’s government should support and provide a stronger incentive mechanism for local logistics enterprises and port operators to join hands to build a world-class logistics center with many types of transport to boost the potential and advantages of the city.

Mr. Dinh Huu Thanh, Chairman and General Director of Con Ong Logistics Joint Stock Company, said that the company is a leading logistics company in Vietnam with offices in many localities and in some countries in the world, the quantity of goods processed by the company is valued at hundreds of millions of USD/year.

Mr. Thanh proposed to build an air logistics center to develop the advantages of Cat Bi International Airport, thereby facilitating and reducing costs for businesses in import and export activities.

“To do this, the city’s government should offer effective mechanisms to encourage and attract domestic and international airlines to operate at Cat Bi Airport. Build an off-airport cargo terminal like at Noi Bai Airport to strengthen the connection between the two airports to improve the operational efficiency and cargo exploitation of Cat Bi Airport," Mr. Thanh said.

The conference. Photo: T.B

Mr. Bui Minh Hung, General Director of Vietnam Container Shipping Joint Stock Company (VICONSHIP) suggested that the city needs to build more expressways in the area to connect with the national highway network and port areas, especially Dinh Vu and Lach Huyen port areas; expand inland waterway transport capacity; strengthen the connection of Cat Bi airport. It is necessary to strengthen the dredging of channels and harbors to ensure conditions for vessel exploitation.

The business representatives also suggested Hai Phong Customs and Hai Phong City promote digital transformation to better serve production, business, import and export activities.

At the conference, Deputy Director of Hai Phong Customs Department Tran Manh Hung directly answered the recommendations of the business community.