Hanoi Customs accompanies logistics businesses

	Logistics businesses must manage to reduce costs
	Ho Chi Minh City Customs removes obstacles for logistics businesses
	Logistics businesses transform digitally to optimize costs

The conference

On November 21, Hanoi Customs Department organized a Customs-Business dialogue conference, with the topic: Accompanying businesses in logistics activities.

The conference had presence of representatives of the European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham), the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association, the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association, the Korea Chamber of Business in Vietnam and more than 30 logistics businesses and customs agents.

At the conference, Deputy Director of Hanoi Customs Department Hoang Quoc Quang said that Hanoi Customs Department expects to strengthen cooperation with business associations, industry associations, import-export enterprises to facilitate trade, reduce customs clearance time and quickly release goods.

The leader of Hanoi Customs Department assessed that business associations, industry associations, and import-export enterprises are a bridge to help Customs authorities and import-export businesses perform quickly and accurately customs procedures, saving compliance costs and improving competitiveness.

Therefore, Hanoi Customs Department wishes businesses to frankly exchange and discuss problems to remove difficulties and bottlenecks in institutions and policies that hinder their production and business activities; support and promote the common and sustainable development of the business community in the area.

At the conference, representatives of units under the Hanoi Customs Department discussed solutions to support and facilitate import-export service activities in the area; gave notes for businesses in classifying goods. In particular, the representative of the Post-Customs Clearance Audit Department noted points that easily make mistakes so that both businesses as well as logistics providers and customs agents can learn from experience.

Mr. Nguyen Hai Minh, Vice President of EuroCham, welcomed the new approach and proactive sharing of the Hanoi Customs Department. This clearly shows the Customs agency's desire for further cooperation between the two sides.

Also at the conference, businesses raised common concerns of logistics units and customs agents about a number of policies, trade facilitation, and ways to solve problems.

A representative of Flat World Company hopes to have closer cooperation with customs units to shorten procedure time for import-export businesses. Besides, businesses also want to have more flexibility in working time at units outside the border gate.

Talking this issue, a representative of the North Hanoi Customs Branch said that the unit has implemented a three-party cooperation solution including: customs - businesses - customs clearance agents to facilitate import and export of goods. The Customs branch has provided support and advice to minimize errors when businesses carry out procedures.

The leader of Hanoi North Customs Branch affirmed that the unit always fulfill the expectations of customs clearance agents as well as import-export enterprises. Any problems that arise after working hours are solved, avoiding affecting the import-export progress of the business.

Covid-19 pandemic - A strong catalyst for the re-positioning of logistics businesses

In the first 10 months of 2023, Hanoi Customs Department processed nearly 1.2 million declarations (equal to 99.47% of the same period in 2022). Total import-export turnover through the unit reached US$46.5 billion (equal to 92.31% of the same period in 2022); and the amount remitted to the state budget by Hanoi Customs Department was VND23,801 billion.