Ho Chi Minh City: Automated supervision of goods at 4 seaports and airports by 1st January 2018

	No more cargo jam in HCM city sea ports
	From January 1st 2017: What’s new about implementing import – export goods supervision at HCMC sea port?
	Proposing coordination in Maritime and Customs management at ports

Mr. Dinh Ngoc Thang presented the Scheme of supervision at a press conference. Photo: T.H

The information was stated by the leader of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department in a press conference on 11th December 2017, on the deployment of the Automated Custom management system in seaports and airports (the former name of the Scheme, “management, supervision of goods at seaports and air ports”).

Deputy Director in charge of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department Dinh Ngoc Thang, said that Ho Chi Minh City Customs is the first unit in the South selected by Ministry of Finance and the General Department of Vietnam Customs for pilot implementation of this scheme. Currently, Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department has trained for sea port and airport operators to basically prepare for the implementation of the Scheme at 3 seaports and Tan Son Nhat airport by 1st January 2018.

3 seaports and 1 warehouse are piloted including: Lotus Port (Customs Branch of Sai Gon Zone 3), SP-ITC (Customs Branch of Zone 1), ICD Phuoc Long (Customs Branch of Zone 4) and SCSC warehouse (Customs Branch of Tan Son Nhat International Airport).

Mr. Dinh Ngoc Thang said that the system had integrated many modern management programs and contributed to closely and promptly supervising movement and situation of goods in and out of ports, warehouses as well as transport of goods among arrears under Customs supervision.

This scheme will create new breakthroughs in Customs management in seaports and airports, and shorten the time and cost of businesses and strengthen the management of the Customs agency, and enhance the law compliance of businesses and prevent trade fraud and smuggling.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Binh, Head of Customs Control and Supervision Division said that the Customs previously implemented VNACCS/VCIS to facilitate goods clearance. In order to continuously create the further favorable condition in importing and exporting goods, Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department implemented the automated supervision system. All imported goods which were transported, loaded and unloaded in ports were closely supervised by the automated system. Also, exported goods were controlled by this system.

At the press conference, representatives of seaport and warehouse operators participating in this pilot said that they were ready for the pilot implementation of Scheme. Mr. Trinh Chinh Sinh, Deputy Director of ICD Phuoc Long said that in past years, the Customs implemented many modern management programs and Customs procedure reform. The implementation of this Scheme aimed to further facilitate import and export businesses in the process of goods in and out of ports. The most important thing is that parties agreed to implement the plan set by the General Department of Vietnam Customs and facilitate import and export businesses and transporters and warehouse operators.

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However, the representatives of sea port operators worried that the interruption and a problem in internet connection in the pilot implementation may be incurred. Thereby, the Customs needs to have another plan to prevent the congestion in delivery and release of goods for businesses.

The representative of Lotus Port said that the plan will be implemented by 1st January 2018, but currently, guidance circulars and documents have not been issued. The company worried that when implementing the plan, whether the circulars and documents would affect it or not. Especially, as the time for starting the plan is approaching the Lunar New Year and the volume of imported and exported goods is very large. Therefore, the Company worried about the interruption causing difficulties for imports and exports.

Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department Nguyen Huu Nghiep, answered the questions from businesses. In the pilot time, the Customs selected 3 ports and 1 warehouse having less volume of imported and exported goods to implement. In addition, the General Department of Vietnam Customs supported Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department and warehouse and port operators, to have another specific plan not to affect the goods clearance of import and export businesses.