Nghe An Customs assists businesses amid Covid-19 pandemic

	Nghe An Customs arrests a person transporting narcotics through management area
	Nghe An Customs arrests suspect transporting a huge volume of drugs
	Nghe An Customs arrests suspect transporting 3,600 tablets of narcotics

Nghe An Customs officers at work. Photo: Tra Mi

Optimistic signals from businesses

Textiles and garments is one of major exports of Nghe An. Textile and clothing exporters are key firms that contribute to increasing the trade and creating jobs.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the supply chain of textile materials was not interrupted, so the production value between January and August surged by nearly 40% compared to the same period in 2020.

For example, the operation of Minh Anh Garment Joint Stock Company saw growth stability. The company’s representative said also other companies have optimistic signals that they have received many orders and remained high growth rate.

From the early year, many firms have signed orders for the whole year and the following year. To implement the dual goals of developing economy while preventing the pandemic, Minh Anh Garment Joint Stock Company has made working plans, arranged safe accommodation and transported workers. Therefore, the company’s operation is still stable and the income for more than 7,000 workers has remained.

Besides textiles, cement is one of items that brought stable turnover in the past eight months. Between January and August, Tan Thang Cement Factory alone has produced more than 500,000 tonnes of clinker and 261,000 tonnes of cement. 212,000 tonnes of clinker and over 257,000 tonnes of cement have been consumed.

Another example, Biomass Fuel Vietnam Co., Ltd has maintained the manufacturing of wood pellet. The company has exported over 15,000 tonnes of wood pellet to Japanese market.

However, many firms have to reduce the output or stop production due to the lack of workers during implementing Directive 16 for Covid-19 prevention and control, the increase in transportation costs and the decrease in import demand of customers in the Middle East and West Asian.

However, Nghe An Customs Department has made great efforts to help businesses to overcome difficulties. During the province applying social distancing measures under Directive 16, Nghe An Customs quickly established working teams to support customs clearance for imports for Covid-19 prevention and facilitate businesses.

In the year to September, the department has carried out procedures for 354 firms, a year- on-year increase of 46 businesses. The number of declarations processed by the department rose 91.2% to 35,748 declarations compared with the same period 2020.

As of September 15, the total trade surged by 95.2% to US$2,323.5 million compared with the previous year. The department collected VND1,381.5 billion, meeting 110.5% of the target.

Timely removing obstacles

According to Deputy Director of Lang Son Customs Department Kieu Truong Son, the department has achieved positive results. However, revenue has shown the sharp decrease due to the complicated development of Covid-19 pandemic. Many firms have faced difficulties and lacked the resources to maintain and restore production and business. Therefore, the department forecasted that import-export activities of firms in the remaining months of the year will continue to suffer from difficulties and there need to provide solutions in line with the reality.

Nghe An Customs Department has taken drastic measures to promote customs clearance. With the motto "accompanying firms to overcome difficulties", the department requires its subordinate units to arrange officers to instruct firms in customs procedures and handled obstacles. Firms have not to pay any additional fees.

This has created confidence for the business community, attracting more businesses to import and export goods through the area.

The department continues to take measures to promote imports and exports across the locality such as expediting administrative reform, creating maximum favorable conditions for imports and exports; working with other agencies to remove difficulties for businesses.