It is necessary to modernize Dong Dang international railway station to meet current regulations

	Investment in the infrastructure of border-gate economic zones must be synchronized with the system of Customs authorities
	Dong Dang International Railway Station: Infrastructure needs upgrading to meet the needs of import and export of goods

Repair and renovation items at the cargo transhipment area of Dong Dang international railway station are still in disarray. Photo: H.N

Many shortcomings

During the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, while some land border gates in Lang Son province suspended import and export activities due to border trade policies, at Dong Dang International Railway Station border gate, customs clearance activities took place vibrantly. However, customs clearance through Dong Dang International Railway Station border gate was only a temporary solution while land border gates were temporarily closed.

Statistics from the Dong Dang International Railway Station Customs Branch show that while in 2022, the import-export turnover through Dong Dang station border gate reached over US$289.5 million; total State budget revenue reached VND463 billion, exceeding 226% of the yearly assigned plan and increasing 70% compared to 2021, import and export turnover in the first eleven months of 2023 through this border gate decreased to about US$87.2 million; total state budget revenue reached nearly VND105 billion, only 29% of the assigned plan and down 73% compared to 2022.

At Dong Dang International Railway Station border gate, there is only one goods inspection and supervision area which is the cargo transshipment area managed by Dong Dang Station Branch. This area is not a warehouse, the location recognized by the General Department of Customs for operation according to the provisions of Clause 3, Article 36 of Decree 68/2016/ND-CP amended and supplemented in Decree 67/2020/ND-CP.

Remarkably, goods storage area for imports and exports still does not meet the inspection and supervision requirements of the Customs agency. In the cargo transhipment area, there is no separate entrance to separate the storage area for import-export and transit goods from domestic goods.

Now, the Vietnam Railway Corporation Branch has completed the construction of a working house including 6 working rooms for Customs, Border Guards and units of Vietnam Railway Corporation. In addition, the yard area is being poured with concrete to ensure space for storing and moving of vehicles in the area.

Talking to Customs Magazine, Mr. Nguyen Huu Minh, Director of Dong Dang International Railway Station Customs Branch, said that the major barrier is still due to the lack of synchronous investment in infrastructure at the station, so the transportation of goods to China, as well as to other countries, is limited. In addition, the cargo yard area is narrow and has no roof, the entrance to the yard is not equipped with a vehicle control barrier system; warehouses have not yet been built by the Vietnam Railway Corporation. Therefore, at Dong Dang International Railway Station Customs Branch, there is no warehouse to store infringing goods or to store them according to regulations. So, the goods must be stored on the carriage, costing a lot for the businesses.

Also according to Mr. Nguyen Huu Minh, there is no separate storage areas for import and export goods, transit goods and domestic goods. At the station and the goods transhipment areas, both domestic and international trains are operated together, and there is no separate area, causing difficulties for Customs in inspecting and supervising import and export goods

Need a comprehensive investment

Facing the above difficulties and limitations, Dong Dang International Railway Station Customs Branch has reported to the competent authorities on investment in infrastructure for Dong Dang station. Along with that, the leader of Lang Son Provincial People's Committee also worked with Vietnam Railway Corporation to discuss solutions to remove difficulties hindering the operation and import-export through Dong Dang station.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Minh said that, to meet customs management and supervision requirements in the area of Dong Dang international railway station in accordance with the law, the unit has reported Lang Son Customs Department to proposes that Vietnam Railway Corporation continue to invest in installing cameras and software to fully meet the customs inspection and supervision requirements according to the provisions of Decree 68/2016/ND-CP amended and supplemented a number of articles in Decree 67/2020/ND-CP.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Minh emphasized that in the immediate future, while investing in repairs, the Customs agency requested the Vietnam Railway Corporation to immediately install entry/exit barriers for road vehicles at the cargo transshipment area to ensure the supervision of import and export goods and vehicles carrying import and export goods convenient and consistent with the regulations. In parallel with infrastructure improvement, Vietnam Railway Corporation should carry out the responsibilities of a warehouse operator as prescribed in Decree 67/2020/ND-CP.

To improve the efficiency of import-export activities via railways in the coming time, the unit continues administrative reform, trade facilitation; work with businesses to promptly resolve problems arising and attract businesses to increase import-export activities through the railway system.

In addition to efforts to well perform the functions and tasks of the Customs agency, many businesses with import-export activities through Lang Son province also believe that Dong Dang international railway station needs proper investment in infrastructure, promoting the socialization of railway transport business activities according to the provisions of Article 5 of the Railway Law. In particular, it is necessary to encourage non-railway business units to operate railway transport and logistics services to increase competitiveness and increase productivity and efficiency in railway transport operations.