Enterprises pay high attention to the Plan on Customs Reform and Modernization for 2016-2020

	Enterprises will benefit from Customs reform and modernization
	Procedural reforms for the business community
	National Single Window – a driving force for reform

The Deputy Director General, Mr. Vu Ngoc Anh speaks at the meeting. Photo: Huu Linh.

There were nearly 300 enterprises which regularly implemented Customs procedures from the various economic sectors, and representatives of business associations, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and others, State agencies and functional units under the General Department of Vietnam Customs, at the meeting.

Connection and empowerment to enterprises

With the theme "Targeting enterprises, connecting enterprises, serving enterprises and empowering enterprises", the conference focused on the topic: The reform and modernization activities towards enterprises; promoting Customs-Business partnerships; providing online public services to the business community and the National Single Window, and the ASEAN Single Window; and mechanisms for issuing certificates of origin.

At the conference, representatives of the Customs reform and modernization Department (under the General Department of Vietnam Customs) provided information to the business community on the Customs reform and modernization program for 2016-2020, including: Reforming administrative procedures and applying information technology, enhancing quality and improving conditions in serving people and the business community, applying modern management and scientific methods in technologies, improving the efficiency of control, and reducing interference in legitimate commercial activities.

Specifically, a number of specific targets in this plan are to implement Customs procedures "anywhere-anytime-any media". Accordingly, Customs declarants may implement Customs procedures anywhere, 24 hours per day on electronic equipment and mobile; the clearance time of goods across the border will be less than 36 hours for exports, and 41 hours for imported goods; and provide online public services at the highest level for 100% principal Customs procedures (level 3 or 4 depending on each procedure).

In addition, at the conference, the General Department of Vietnam Customs also outlined measures and activities to promote the Customs-Business partnership recently. One of the priorities to develop the Customs-Business partnership in the near future is to promote the partnership with businesses that observe the law and are willing to cooperate with Customs authorities to be a group of loyal customers.

Representatives of the Information Technology and Customs Statistics Department also announced the results of implementing online public services of the General Department of Vietnam Customs; results of implementing the National Single Window, the ASEAN Single Window, which shows the improvement in service quality of State management agencies for citizens and businesses.

Accordingly, in 2016, 70% of online public services are provided at level 3, and 50% of online public services in the core areas of Customs are provided at level 4. By 2017, 100 % of online public services will be provided at level 3, and 70% of online public services in the core areas of Customs will be provided at level 4.

Regarding the implementation of the National Single Window, by 2018, Customs will have completed the expansion of procedures nationwide for vehicles, goods entering and leaving ports, inland waterway ports, airports and oil offshore through the National Single Window.

Also, Customs will implement administrative procedures with large transactions first, at least 80% of the administrative procedures of ministries and agencies related to export activities, immigration, and transit of goods and vehicles.

Actively implement the plan on Customs reform

The plan on Customs reform and modernization was highly appreciated by participants and enterprises at the conference. A representative of the Vietnam Logistics Association said that the determination of the Ministry of Finance in administrative reforms in tax and Customs is very great, in accordance with the target of the Government and the Prime Minister.

However, in order to effectively implement the Plan on Customs reform and modernization in the period 2016-2020, the General Department of Vietnam Customs should publicize the contents of the plan to local Customs Departments and Customs Branches. In addition, Customs should focus on training of human resources, not only for Customs officers but also for businesses about new legal policies and new procedures.

Regarding the results of Customs reform and modernization in recent years, representatives of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association stated that the General Department of Vietnam Customs had drastically implemented reforms under Governement Resolution 19/ NQ-CP, Government Resolution 35 / NQ-CP, and Government Resolution 36a / NQ-CP.

The problems of enterprises and associations have been reported to the General Department of Vietnam Customs to quickly seek solutions for supporting enterprises. In particular, the reform agenda of the General Department of Vietnam Customs such as: control on the basis of risk management, inspections or classification of channels has helped enterprises clearly understand the laws. However, representatives of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association said that the Plan on Customs reform and modernization for 2016-2020 would gain more outstanding results if relevant agencies had closer collaboration.

Currently, specialized inspections are causing difficulties for businesses. For example, in the field of textiles, if the Ministry of Industry and Trade announces results of specialized inspections through electronic systems, it will help enterprises shorten the time of Customs clearance.

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A representative of the Vietnam Petroleum Association also said that Customs was the outstanding State agency implementing administrative reforms under the direction of the Prime Minister, which facilitated the business community. Therefore, the General Department of Vietnam Customs should sign a cooperation agreement with the Vietnam Petroleum Association as soon as possible to handle arising problems of businesses.