Guidance is to be given soon for implementation of automatic customs management system

Mr. Le Duc Thanh, Deputy Director of Department of Information Technology and Customs Statistics (General Department of Customs)

Which solution is best for effectively implementing the direction of the Director General? The Customs newspaper’s reporter interviewed Mr Le Duc Thanh, Deputy Director of Department of Information Technology and Customs Statistics (General Department of Customs).

Could you let me know the arising problems that caused the implementation of automatic customs management system to not be as expected?

Following the direction of the General Department of Customs, the Department of Information Technology and Customs Statistics advised and drafted two documents to submit to the leaders of the General Department of Customs issuing plans for the implementation of the automatic customs management system. These are Plan 4098/KH-TCHQ dated 21/6/2017 and Plan 3009/KH-TCHQ dated 30/5/2018.

In particular, Plan 4098 sets the target of 2017 to officially implement the project on management and supervision of goods at seaports, airports and warehouses, yards and seaports in two Customs Departments including Hai Phong and Hanoi.

At the same time, the project will be extended to 11 Customs Offices with seaports and airports including Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Can Tho.

Despite the achievements in the results, there are some problems in the implementation of the system under Plan 4098. These are: Delay in the promulgation of legal documents (decrees, circulars) and issuance of Electronic Exit Decisions for Exit, Entry, and Exit Aircraft through the National Single Window.

On the IT infrastructure, there are some issues such as: The system meets some problems in exchanging information with 3 airport businesses in Noi Bai because of using many data standards for exchanging information.

The system does not have the functions to manage and monitor the morphological changes of goods in bonded warehouses as well as the change of owners of goods.

There are some problems in receipting air manifests that also comes from the fact that carriers use a variety of data standards in the process of exchanging information.

On the scale of implementation, according to Plan 4098, it is expected that in the fourth quarter of 2017 and 2018, it will be expanded to 11 customs departments with seaports. However, at this time, the scale of implementation is still very small, and does not meet the requirement.

As for Plan 3009, as required, units have to complete the review of the current status, identify the deployed enterprises and develop a detailed implementation plan at this time.

However, the combined results show that only 21/35 local customs departments completed the review of the current status, identifying the deployed enterprises, of which only 14 have developed the implementation plan such as: Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Can Tho, Da Nang, Dien Bien, Long An, Quang Ngai and Thua Thien Hue.

Some departments have plans to deploy the system in 2019, such as Dong Nai, Gia Lai - Kon Tum, Thanh Hoa.

Many new units have mentioned the general plan, the roadmap and the specific time for linking and deploying the system, but have not been clearly defined.

It can be said that we are late for schedule and if this situation is not overcome soon, by 2018 we will not achieve the goal set out in Plan 3009.

Facing with the above shortcomings and limitations, at the conference on promoting the implementation of the system for automatic customs management on the national scale (August 9), the General Director Nguyen Van Can insisted on the implementation of the system for automatic customs management in the whole country according to Plan 3009. By 30/9/2018 it must be basically completed nationwide. In order to effectively implement the direction of the Director General, what should be focused on for breakthrough solutions?

For legal requirements, the General Department of Customs has to promptly submit to the Ministry of Finance to submit to the Government to issue a Decree amending Decree 68/2016/ND-CP, to serve as a basis for the implementation.

However, in order to carry out the direction of the General Director, it requires great efforts and determination from the local customs offices.

They need to complete a survey, review the current status, identify deployed enterprises and develop a detailed implementation plan.

Officials are responsible for deploying the system to participate in training courses on business processes and IT systems organized by the General Department of Customs.

Organizing seminars, developing materials for dissemination and providing information, using the system, the implementation plan and the work to be prepared for officers and enterprises.

Introducing, guiding and supporting the sub-departments and businesses exchange information, technical requirements and building of software to connect with the customs office. Data standards and technical connection requirements issued by the General Department of Customs.

Collaborating with units under the General Department of Customs (Department of Information Technology and Customs Statistics, Department of Customs Supervision, Department of Risk Management ) to implement the contents under the development plan.

Monitoring and supporting port enterprises in warehousing, and for export-import enterprises as well as carriers to deal with arising problems in the course of implementation.

On the 15th of every month, reports are to be submitted on the situation and results of the implementation to the General Department of Customs (via the Department of Information Technology and Customs Statistics).

Regarding the Department of Information and Communication Technology, fully grasp the guidance of the Director General at the conference, as we are urgently finalizing the detailed implementation guidelines to submit to leaders of the General Department to issue a document this week.

In addition, the Department continues to complete the IT infrastructure according to the roadmap: To assist the units in organizing training and dissemination activities to enterprises; Support enterprise end-user testing and put it into operation officially.

Thank you Sir!