Lang Son Customs revenue shows many signs of prosperity

	Lang Son: Customs clearance at border gates is still convenient
	Lang Son Customs encounters difficulties in implementing solutions to facilitate the export of agricultural products
	Lang Son Customs strengthens solutions to facilitate agricultural exports

Chi Ma Customs official (Lang Son Customs Department) receives customs procedures from an enterprise. Photo: H.Nu

Turnover rise significantly

According to Lang Son Customs Department, from January 8, 2023, China began to change its policy to respond Covid-19 pandemic, so import-export activities became more favorable. The authorities of Lang Son province have strengthened solutions to ensure clearance capacity, maximize import-export activities at five of 12 border gates (Huu Nghi international border gate, Dong Dang railway station, Chi Ma border gate, Tan Thanh sub-border gate, Coc Nam sub-border gate). In particular, the restoration of the method of delivery of goods as before the pandemic at Huu Nghi international border gate and Tan Thanh border gate has facilitated import-export activities and raised customs clearance capacity. Accordingly, the taxable imports and exports increased compared to the same period in 2022.

To perform the assigned tasks, the unit has arranged customs officials and developed measures to increase customs clearance efficiency, creating favorable conditions for enterprises dealing with import-export activities through the area. In addition, the department has smoothly run the electronic customs clearance system in association with the Digital Border Gate Platform, avoiding congestion at the border gate due to obstacles in customs procedures; actively solved arising difficulties and problems, thereby creating a healthy business environment, preventing revenue loss; established working groups to visit and work directly at large importers and exporters discuss solutions to further improve the business investment environment and promote import and export activities. Furthermore, the department has worked with the Management Board of Dong Dang - Lang Son border gate economic zone to organize dialogue conferences with import-export enterprises in the province in 2023.

In the first six months of the year, Lang Son Customs Department has also focused on directing its subordinate units to strengthen the management, inspection and supervision of import and export goods, especially independent transportation, express delivery, temporary import for re-export, goods stored in bonded warehouses and processing type; controlling overloaded and oversized means of transport of goods subject to customs supervision; running the declaration system; receiving, inspecting and confirming E-manifest.

Motivated by positive solutions, as of June 20, Lang Son recorded US$20,259.73 million in trade. The imports and exports through Lang Son Customs Department reached US$2,115.97 million, up 110% year-on-year.

Specifically, the exports surged 367% year-on-year to US$1,160.87 million. The main exported products include fruits, agricultural products, peeled wood planks, aluminium alloys, fine art furniture and aquatic products.

The imports saw a year-on-year rise of 25.8% to US$955,1. The main imports were machinery and equipment, children's toys, means of transport, auto parts, iron and steel products, electronic components, consumer goods, furniture and agricultural products.

It is worth mentioning that turnover of several taxable items accounted for a high percentage, such as automobiles, semi-trailers rising at 59.08%; other machinery and equipment at 51.9%; excavators, earthmoving machines, hydraulic pile presses at 43.48%; mobile phones and mobile phone devices y 20.4% over the same period last year.

Accordingly, as of June 20, the Lang Son Department earned VND 2,295.5 billion, equaling 38.26% of the assigned target and increasing by 7.71% over the same period in 2022.

Continue solutions

In the last months of the year, aiming to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Lang Son Customs Department, according to Director of Lang Son Customs Department Nguyen Hong Linh, Lang Son Customs will continue to review, inspect and guide enterprises to strictly comply with regulations on customs declaration on names and codes of items with high tax rates and large turnover, regularly go through import and export procedures at the customs clearance stage or the post-clearance stage; periodically check and review data on the system, identify suspicious signs, conduct consultations (during customs clearance) or post-clearance audits for doubtful cases of declared value. In particular, the department will focus on commodity groups with potential fraud risks, such as bicycles, confectionery, bricks, electronic equipment, and consumer goods.

Furthermore, the department shall request border-gate customs branches to regularly review and contact representatives of enterprises and staff of enterprises with large turnover and contributions to the state budget to obtain information about the import and export situation, make import-export plans, and promptly solve difficulties and problems of enterprises.

Moreover, the customs branches are assigned to actively guide and create conditions for new businesses to carry out procedures through the province, particularly collecting information to find out the reasons why businesses move to carry out procedures to another location, thereby taking remedial measures and encouraging enterprises to continue carrying out procedures in the province.

In addition, Lang Son Customs Department will also actively coordinate with departments, agencies and sectors in the province to strengthen talks and exchanges with agencies in Guangxi (China) to unify solutions to create maximum favourable conditions for customs clearance through border gates in Lang Son province; continue to hold talks with the Chinese side to restore sub-border gates in the province soon to improve the customs clearance capacity.

Also, according to the People's Committee of Lang Son province, to promote import-export activities, the People's Committee of Lang Son province will continue to adjust the master plan for construction of the main Chi Ma border gate area; urge and support investors to accelerate the implementation of infrastructure investment projects in functional zones (Goods transhipment zone, Export processing zone 1, Non-tariff zone and several other projects).

Lang Son Customs implements quality policy in all operations VCN - To meet the requirements of development, international integration, and facilitate import and export activities, entry ...

Also, the People's Committee of Lang Son province will strengthen the grasp of the import-export situation and proactively plan the channelling, regulation and arrangement of vehicles to avoid congestion at the border gates; implement the project "Technical assistance to build Tan Thanh - Po Chai tourism and trade cooperation zone" funded by the Mekong - Lan Cang Cooperation Fund.