Modernization is the top priority of the Customs sector

Deputy Director General Mai Xuan Thanh and Mr. Trevor Hublin discussed the cooperation between the two sides. Photo: N.L

Deputy Director General Mai Xuan Thanh sent greetings and congratulations to Mr Trevor Hublin on his newly appointed Deputy Director of the Department of Governance and Economic Growth of USAID. At the same time, he highly appreciated the contributions and support of the USAID Project in the process of customs modernization.

At the meeting, the two sides discussed the priorities in the coming time within the framework of the TFP Project (USAID-funded Trade Facilitation Project).

Deputy Director General Mai Xuan Thanh said that although cargo clearance activities had faced significant obstacles in the past time due to the Covid-19 epidemic, along with the efforts of the Customs sector and the companionship of units, organizations and associations which had responded promptly and deployed many support solutions for businesses, so that clearance activities took place smoothly.

Recently, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 628/QD-TTg approving the Customs development strategy until 2030, in which the goal set out to build modern Vietnam Customs on par with the customs of developed countries in the world. Besides that, at present, Vietnam is a destination for many foreign investors, so it requires the Customs sector to have substantial reform and modernization to meet development goals and create favorable conditions for the customs sector.

"The modernization program requires much research. If it goes wrong, it will waste time and workforce. Therefore, to achieve the goal, it is necessary to manage change", Deputy Director General Mai Xuan Thanh shared.

He affirmed that modernization was the top priority of Vietnam Customs.

According to the leader of the General Department of Vietnam Customs, over the past time, Vietnam Customs has always received active support from the USAID project through supporting activities in building capacity for specialized officers of Vietnam Customs. With the customs modernization program in the coming period, the Deputy Director General also expressed his wish to continue receiving financial, technical and training support from USAID.

At the meeting, Mr Trevor Hublin highly appreciated the cooperation and coordination of Vietnam Customs in trade facilitation projects. At the same time, he also assessed that Vietnam Customs was a companion for enterprises in both facilitating import and export businesses and ensuring law compliance of enterprises.

Mr Trevor Hublin affirmed that he would work closely with the General Department of Vietnam Customs in the projects being implemented and would continue to study to cooperate with Vietnam Customs to implement plans toward the customs reform and modernization goal.