Operational Regulations of the National Steering Committee on the Asian Single Window, NSW and trade facilitation

Photo: Thu Hòa

The regulations clarify that the Steering Committee is an inter-disciplinary collaborative organization to help the Prime Minister to direct, coordinate, guide, inspect and organize the ASW and NSW under the Convention and Protocols for building and implementing ASW; implementing synchronous measures to facilitate trade and goods exchange across borders; and will have the responsibility and powers stipulated in Article 2 of the Decision 1899/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister on October 4^th 2016.

The Steering Committee will work in a collaborative mode with the responsibility of the Steering Committee clearly with the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and other sub-Committees.The Chairman, Deputy Chairman and members of the Steering Committee will work on a multi-task basis. Each Steering Committee member is assigned and responsible for organizing, coordinating and implementing ASW, NSW and trade facilitation within the rage of the ministries, the agency and under assignment of the Head of the Steering Committee.

Specifically, the regulations specify that the Head of the Steering Committee is fully responsible to the Prime Minister on the areas of work, the general operation of the Steering Committee; leading and administrative activities of the Steering Committee; approving working regulations and plans in order to implement the ASW, NSW and trade facilitation; and approving and directing the implementation of the inter-agency coordination mechanism to organize, develop and implement ASW, NSW and trade facilitation;

Furthermore, the Steering Committee must propose to send a representative of Vietnam to participate in the Steering Committee of ASEAN and the ASEAN Working Group on ASW and the working group or structure as required by the implementation of international treaties to which Vietnam is a contracting party involved to facilitate trade and exchange of goods across the border. The nominee will be authorized or approved by the Prime Minister on the cooperation agreement between ASEAN countries and related activities to implement the ASEAN Single Window, not subject to the Law on International Treaties, 2016.

The Vice Chairman shall assist the Chief Executive to direct the activities of the Steering Committee including: Coordination of joint activities of the Steering Committee; directing the activities of the Agency Permanent Steering Committee; coordinating the organization of implementing the program, and plans to implement the ASW, NSW and facilitate trade. Steering Committee members will have the task to be an information centre, reports, and organizing of the implementation of ASW, NSW and trade facilitation within their ministries or agencies to manage and track progress.

Responsibilities of the Permanent Office will be to proactively plan work programs of the Steering Committee and the coordination of activities among the members of the Steering Committee in the implementation of the ASEAN Single Window Mechanism, National Single Window and trade facilitation provisions in the regulations. The Permanent Office should also make suggestions and recommendations to the Chairman of the Steering Committee for consideration and handling of issues related to the general operation of the Steering Committee. Urging and supervising the Steering Committee members on the implementation of the tasks defined in the Regulation and other duties assigned by the Steering Committee.

The National Steering Committee for the ASEAN Single Window, a national mechanism to facilitate trade has been established under Decision 1899/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister on October 4^th 2016. The committee is led by Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue as its Chair and the Minister of Finance is Deputy Chairman.

Addionally, other Deputy Commissioners including: the Ministry of Public Security, Industry and Trade, Transport, Planning and Investment, Science and Technology, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture and Rural Development, Defence, Finance, Accounting Resources and Environment, Information and Communication, Justice, Culture, Sports and Tourism, Construction, Health, Interior; Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam; Deputy Chairman of the Government Office; General Director of the General Department of Customs; and Leaders of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.The Permanent office of the National Steering Committee will be set up at the General Department of Customs (Ministry of Finance).