Diversify "methods" to support businesses

	The Ministry of Industry and Trade removes many procedures to facilitate businesses
	US National Centre for APEC helps lure businesses to Vietnam
	Propose to amend Decree 24 to stop illegal gold

In 2016, Customs authorities received and answered 110 cases at the headquarters of Customs declarants, and taxpayers in accordance with current regulations. Photo: Huu Linh.

According to relevant agencies, Departments and associations, in recent times, enterprises have paid much attention to the Customs Law through various forms such as posting questions on the website or by telephone, exchanging information at training conferences and dialogue conferences. In order to create favourable conditions for enterprises to grasp the Customs legislation effectively, after receiving questions, Customs officers have studied and answered fully in line with the content and current regulations. For matters beyond their competence or not under management of Customs, Customs officers have reported to senior authorities for guidance and answers.

A representative of the Legal Department (under the General Department of Vietnam Customs), said over the years, enterprises still sent their problems related to the Customs legislation through their representative organizations (business associations) or through the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) to the Customs office for guidance and answers. Upon receiving problems gathered from VCCI, business associations, Customs authorities shall study and answer correctly, fully and promptly. For the matters related to mechanisms and policies, Customs authorities will continue to research to amend and supplement the Customs legislation.

In addition, the Customs Newspapers and the electronic portal of Customs are also important channels to effectively disseminate and publicize the Customs Law; reflect difficulties and problems in the implementation of the Customs Law of Customs authorities and the business community; praise exemplary individuals and outstanding enterprises in effective observance of Customs legislation.

In the implementation of regulations and answers related to Customs legislation on the Customs Newspaper of the General Department of Vietnam Customs, the Customs Newspaper began to receive problems related to Customs procedures from 8th December 2016 .

According to statistics from the Legal Department, in 2016, Customs has received and resolved 11,439 cases of providing information on Customs legislation to Customs declarants and taxpayers at Customs offices; 30,004 phone calls for guidance, and supply of information on Customs legislation for Customs declarants, taxpayers and businesses; and 2,629 requests for guidance in writing. In 2016, Customs authorities received and answered 110 cases at the headquarters of Customs declarants, and taxpayers in accordance with current regulations.

In the last year, Customs posted 5,196 legal documents on the Customs Newspapers, and the electronic portal of Customs and other electronic pages of subordinate units; answered 909 problems of enterprises on the website; and transferred to competent authorities to solve 39 problems beyond the competence of Customs. This has proved the efforts of Customs authorities in addressing problems of enterprises.

In order to reform administrative procedures on Customs effectively and build a strong relationship with the business community, over the years, Customs has regularly held dialogue conferences to reflect problems related to the mechanism, and import management policies, Customs procedures and attitudes of Customs officers on duty.

By this measure, the General Department of Vietnam Customs and local Customs Departments have promptly solved many problems of enterprises and grasped more useful information to reform administrative procedures and rectify negative matters of civil servants.

Annually, there are two dialogue conferences held by the Ministry of Finance in the North and the South. After each conference, a number of legal documents related to Customs procedures and tax administration are issued to further facilitate the business community at the request of enterprises. In fact, the diversity of Customs procedures may cause difficulties for enterprises in the clearance time. But these problems have been resolved on the basis of transparency, openness and uniformity.

In spite of achieving positive results, the General Department of Vietnam Customs said that the operations of answers, advice, and dissemination of legal documents were not really frequent and not fully aware of the importance of these operations. The operations have also not fully met requirements of enterprises. The effectiveness of coordination between Departments under the General Department of Vietnam Customs with local Customs Departments is not really high.

Hanoi continues to publicize businesses which have tax debt VCN- Although the Hanoi Tax Department implemented drastic measures to manage and urge the collection of the ...