Ha Tinh Customs effectively implements Customs-Business partnership

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Vung Ang Customs officers receive and process procedures for enterprises. Photo: H.N

10-year journey

Over the past years, in order to help enterprises understand regulations and avoid errors, Ha Tinh Customs Department has regularly organized dialogues, instructions and disseminations of laws and support programs for the business community. At the same time, the department has informed new legal documents to the business community and administrative procedures at the department’s headquarters. Ha Tinh Customs Department has implemented thousands of instructions via written responses and telephone for businesses. Notably, Vung Ang Seaport Customs Branch has conducted about 600 instructions; Cau Treo International Seaport Customs Branch has implemented about 500 instructions; and Technical Division has implemented 550 instructions.

In addition, Ha Tinh Customs Department has implemented seminars on “Report on settlement for processed and exported goods”, “Resolving problems and instructing customs procedures for temporary import-re-export operators, “Coordinating management, inspection and supervision for temporarily imported - re-exported goods for construction of Formosa and contractors”. The department has widely disseminated the Law on Export and Import Tax to raise awareness of businesses.

Ha Tinh Customs Department has collected opinions from the business community and proactively commented on drafts of relevant legal policies; supported and guided businesses on registration and issuance of tax lists of investment projects creating fixed assets. Every day, members of the customs-business consulting team at the branches regularly consult and assist in resolving arising problems. In addition, the Technical Division has also consulted on the website of the Customs industry, instructed procedures and held consultation conferences to answer businesses' questions.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Long, Deputy Director of Ha Tinh Customs Department said that the consultation is not only implemented at the Customs’ headquarters but is also conducted at the enterprise premises to remove problems and attract enterprises. Accordingly, over the past 10 years, the department has conducted over 250 consultations with the business community in the area.

Notably, the department has implemented two consultations with Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. related to the Tax Exemption List and changing the use purpose for imported goods. Through consultation sessions, businesses appreciate the initiative and timely removal of difficulties and obstacles by the Customs, creating maximum conditions for businesses.

Over the past 10 years, Ha Tinh Customs Department and its branches have signed 10 coordination regulations with partners and related parties. Notably, during the Covid-19 outbreak, the department has implemented three initiatives to promote partnership development and achieved outstanding results.

The department has implemented initiatives such as solutions to accompany businesses in import-export activities amid the Covid-19 pandemic; solutions to improve the form of law dissemination, support the provision of information to customs declarants and taxpayers, in accordance with the requirements of preventing and fighting the Covid-19 pandemic; solutions to improve the effectiveness of dissemination and support in providing information to customs declarants during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The interactive relationship has created conditions for the Customs to understand arising problems and obstacles in import-export activities of enterprises and to resolve them. This is an opportunity for the both sides to share information about factors affecting tax payment, the import-export business environment, and acts of trade fraud and smuggling. This is also an information channel to gather feedback on the service attitude of customs officials from businesses, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Long said.

Continuously innovate and create

Representative of Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. said that in recent times, Ha Tinh Customs Department and its branches have always supported businesses in resolving arising problems. Ha Tinh Customs Department not only organizes conferences to remove difficulties for enterprises but also assigns officers to directly support them in implementing Customs procedures, thereby facilitating customs clearance and creating the trust for the business community in customs process.

In addition, importers, exporters, warehouse, port and yard operators have highly appreciated the support by the Customs. Accordingly, the department has assigned officers to directly install electronic declaration software, and guide new customs policies via e-mail, phone… to help businesses regularly grasp and raise awareness of customs procedures.

Deputy Director Nguyen Dinh Long said that the close Customs-Business cooperation has brought many practical benefits to both sides. This is an effective solution, helping import-export enterprises sustainable development. Through the partnership, the Customs has improved the quality of control, clearly identified problems and obstacles in policies, and promptly proposed adjustments to well perform assigned tasks. The business community also benefits from increasingly transparent and simple customs procedures.

In the near furture, Ha Tinh Customs Department will continue to promote comprehensive cooperation with the business community and relevant parties. Notably, the department aims to innovate, create and improve the quality of Customs –Business dialogue and consultation activities; strengthen coordination with enforcement forces to shorten customs clearance time, reduce costs, and facilitate import and export activities.

The department will proactively update information related to production, business, and import-export activities of each enterprise carrying out customs procedures at the department, thereby making plans to arrange personnel, focal points to support businesses in a timely fashion. The department will also promote digital transformation, expedite customs modernization and effectively apply IT in customs process; diversify cooperative activities, encourage businesses and related parties to participate in consultation activities of the Customs.