Lao Bao Customs: Enhancing the efficiency of management software

Customs officers of Lao Bao International Border Gate Customs Branch (Quang Tri Customs Department) conducted cargo scanning by using mobile scanning machine. Photo: Quang Hùng

Many initiatives for building management software

Quang Tri's import-export activities continue to flourish in early July 2024. The volume of customs declarations and means of transport remains stable and smooth, with even peak periods at times.

Statistics from the Lao Bao International Border Gate Customs Branch, under the Quang Tri Customs Department, show that in the first six months of 2024, the number of inbound and outbound vehicles reached 109,698, up 17.77% compared to the same period last year. The department has processed 4,749 declarations, up 15.07%, with total import-export turnover reaching US$283.8 million , up 35.28%; and the volume of goods reached 595,940 tons, up 52.78%.

In recent times, to enhance management efficiency in the area, the Lao Bao International Border Gate Customs Branch has developed and implemented programs and plans to carry out assigned tasks, improved professional work, and effectively utilized specialized equipment to reduce clearance time and facilitate trade and tourism activities. The department has effectively used the customs sector's information technology applications in professional work; regularly upgraded programs to meet the practical requirements of the work.

A notable example is the Lao Bao International Border Gate Customs Branch's promotion of non-cash collection of customs fee for outbound and inbound vehicles through commercial banks right at the Lao Bao International Border Gate. As a result, in the first six months of 2024, 55 enterprises in the area paid taxes through the 24/7 System, with a total tax revenue of VND 128.1 billion.

Furthermore, the Lao Bao International Border Gate Customs Branch has implemented numerous initiatives to develop management software that meets both management requirements and facilitates the business community. For instance, operating software to manage vehicles frequently crossing the border; implementing software for one-time declaration and multiple trips; and training and deploying software for managing, storing, and using images from container and luggage scanners.

Sharing with reporters, a representative of the Lao Bao International Border Gate Customs Branch said that the department is currently equipped with one mobile M60 container scanning machine and four luggage scanning machine. While the management and use of specialized equipment have effectively met customs requirements, the management and use of images, scanning images are only stored on independent systems, making it difficult to manage, preserve, and access for study by officials. Therefore, building and deploying software to manage scanning images to serve storage, retrieval, and as a channel for learning and training is very necessary.

Specifically, on April 20, 2024, the Lao Bao International Border Gate Customs Branch organized training on software for managing, storing, and using images from container and luggage scanners, and officially launched the "Management and Use of Scanning Images at Lao Bao International Border Gate Customs Branch" program from June 15, 2024. Currently, the department continues to develop the "Selection, proposal, approval, and implementation of scanning through the mobile M60 container scanning machine" program.

In addition, the department has proactively proposed upgrading the management system for inbound and outbound road vehicles, building and supplementing an online declaration sub-system applied at the Lao Bao International Border Gate Customs Branch. At the same time, the branch also upgraded the software for managing vehicles frequently crossing the border; conducted trial runs and proposed upgrades, and developed and deployed the vehicle management software of Hoang Son Joint Stock Corporation (this software is being effectively used by the La Lay Border Gate Customs Branch, Quang Tri Customs Department - PV). At the same time, it proactively participated in providing comments on draft procedures for customs procedures for import-export goods and goods under customs supervision in case the VNACCS/VCIS system encounters errors."

Proposing to upgrade border infrastructure

Despite significant efforts by the Customs authorities to boost import-export activities through the Lao Bao International Border Gate, the current border infrastructure is inadequate to handle the increasing volume of transport vehicles.

The head of the Lao Bao Border Gate Customs Branch reported that the daily number of inbound and outbound vehicles through the Lao Bao Border Gate currently ranges from 600 to 700, of which 70% are involved in import, export, and transit of goods. Meanwhile, the maximum capacity of the import area (Thien Nien Ky Yard) is only about 124 vehicles, and the absence of an export cargo inspection area has led to overloading at the import cargo inspection area as vehicles wait to cross and unload. This significantly impacts the flow of goods and cannot meet the import-export demand through this border gate.

To address business difficulties and facilitate trade, investment attraction, and cross-border travel, while continuing to implement various solutions to overcome challenges, the Lao Bao Border Gate Customs Branch has sent a document to the Quang Tri Customs Department requesting the General Department of Vietnam Customs and the Quang Tri People's Committee to promptly take measures to address these issues.