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A working session of Da Nang Customs Department leaders at businesses' premises to remove problems in business production.

In Da Nang, enterprises have faced adverse factors, risks and challenges, and fluctuations in the world economy. Therefore, the leader of the Da Nang Customs Department has directed to set up working teams to remove problems and facilitate import and export activities for local enterprises, and to process customs procedures at customs branches.

Through contact with enterprises, Da Nang Customs Department has disseminated new customs policies and reform programs; removed difficulties, thereby facilitating importers and exporters.

Head of Customs Control and Supervision Division under Da Nang Customs Department Cao Van Nhan said that the direct contact at enterprises' premises with the participation of representatives of the leaders of the departments has helped remove the problem of enterprises and record issues beyond the authority of the department to report to the superior authority. "For example, at the working session with enterprises, the Customs received information related to procedures for specialized inspection that took many months to complete. The information is the basis for local Customs to propose to the General Department of Vietnam Customs and the Ministry of Finance to discuss with ministries and sectors to provide solutions to remove," said Nhan.

The department has received and answered questions from enterprises via email and the portal. The answers have been provided within 30 minutes to 1 hour to solve for businesses in customs procedure promptly," said Mr Cao Van Nhan.

In addition, the dissemination of legal policies has been implemented annually. The department has trained and provided information on valid customs policies to new enterprises and their staff. The training courses on new policies have been implemented for all enterprises.

At Thanh Hoa Customs Department, the department held two dialogue conferences in the first quarter with the participation of 92 local importing and exporting enterprises, port and warehouse operators and customs brokers to publicize new regulations.

The department has answered problems in customs processes for enterprises such as finalization report of export processing and manufacturing goods, processing enterprises; regulations on regulations on management and traceability of forest products; policies to support enterprises when opening declarations at Nghi Son Seaport Customs Branch; problems related to the Vietnam Automated System for Seaport Customs Management; procedures for Tax refund; insurance costs in the declaration of the customs value of imported goods.

The department has regularly maintained support channels to remove difficulties in customs procedures for firms, such as the working teams in charge of supporting enterprises 24/7 and hotline phone numbers at customs branches. In addition, the department has effectively implemented the performance method in which each customs officer performs the duties while supporting enterprises in customs procedures.

Mr Trong Thanh Hoa, Head of the Import-Export Business Department of Thanh Hoa Co., Ltd, highly appreciates customs officers' working attitude, contact and behaviour in guiding, consulting and implementing customs procedures. Especially, Customs procedures and policies have been publicized at the Customs office. In addition, simplifying Customs procedures has facilitated enterprises importing and exporting goods, reducing time and cost for enterprises.

The two examples have shown that Customs has gathered feedback from enterprises in completing legal documents and instructions for firms. For example, during gathering comments on the draft Circular replacing circulars on inspection and verification of the origin of imports and exports, the General Department has to get opinions from enterprises, ministries, sectors and local governments and agencies to perfect the Circular.

At the dialogue conference "Removing difficulties for enterprises in import and export activities" jointly held by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the General Department of Viet Nam Customs in coordination with the People's Committees of four provinces of Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Hung Yen and Quang Ninh with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), VCCI's Vice President Hoang Quang Phong said that the Government, ministries and sectors have made great efforts to simplify import and export procedures, enhanced transparency in trade policies, and issued mechanisms to solve difficulties and problems of enterprises.

VCCI recognized efforts in customs reform, modernization, and trade facilitation. The notable achievements of the Customs sector include the implementation of the National Single Window and the ASEAN Single Window; the application of information technology in customs clearance, post-clearance audit and customs supervision; implementation of risk management principles in assessing compliance with specialized laws and step by step making transparency in commercial information.

Ms Bui Kim Thuy, Senior Representative of the US-ASEAN Business Council in Vietnam (USABC), many businesses highly appreciated the operation by the drafting board and the General Department of Vietnam Customs in consulting relevant agencies to perfect the draft with provisions towards trade facilitation. As a result, many inappropriate regulations have been replaced by appropriate regulations in line with international commitments, especially with free trade agreements acceded by Vietnam and ASEAN.