Phu Quoc Customs’ efforts

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Phu Quoc Customs Branch processes procedures for passengers from Thailand.

Especially, the wedding of a rich Indian couple with scale 700 guests took place in Phu Quoc, openingthe opportunity for Phu Quoc to promote tourism and attract more and more international passengers. Preferential and attractive investment policies have helped Phu Quoc develop its economy and created opportunities to attract investment capital of corporations building amusement parks and international-class resorts such as Vinpearl Phu Quoc, safari zoo, golf course, cable car and casino projects leading to the sharp increase in the number of enterprises carrying out procedures.

Following directions of the Customs Sector and the province, Phu Quoc Customs Branch has made great effort to process immigration procedures quickly, ensuring compliance with the law and contributing to socio-economic development in Phu Quoc. The branch has also strengthened inspection and supervision for import and export goods and immigration luggage to control trade frauds, smuggling fake and banned goods; luggage exceeding the duty-free standard without declarations.

Although the total number of enterprises carrying out Customs procedures at the branch is only eight with a total of 170 declarations, the turnover is more than US$60 million, increasing by 133% compared to 2018. Export turnover has increased sharply due to the import of machinery and equipment to create fixed assets for the casino system by Vinpearl Phu Quoc Group and the import of machinery by Sun Group under the import list was registered until 2019. In addition, providing meals for foreign aircraft and export goods sold have led to the increase in export turnover. Thereby, Phu Quoc Customs Branch’ revenue is 400 billion VND, up by 60% compared to 2018.

However, the most difficult thing is that the number of officers of Phu Quoc Customs Branch is still less than 20. Almost all leaders and officials have made great effort to perform their tasks. When lots of work comes at the same time, the number of officers is insufficient to assign tasks for the implementation stages.

The National Single Window systems can only search and exploit flights and does not have got the feedback function, so Customs authorities cannot respond and request representatives to provide dossiers according to the Customs’ requirements. The branch still guides and supports enterprises in declaring the National Single Window system via aviation. However, the declaration in the system is in the process of correcting and removing errors, so the branch still permits airlines to submit paper dossiers for flights on exit or entry.

Facing this situation, Director of Kien Giang Customs Department Ngo Hoang Hai said the Department will strengthen the arrangement and selection of officers with high qualification to supplement for Phu Quoc Customs Branch, ensuring quick and convenient performance. The department also pays attention to training and retraining for customs officers to enhance their qualification to meet the increasing requirements in the development.

In the long term, Kien Giang Customs Department will propose the General Department of Vietnam Customs to arrange more officers at Phu Quoc Customs Branch through mobilisation from other units and has a special recruitment mechanism. Currently, there are two duty free shops and three warehouses at Phu Quoc international airport, so the workload will increase in the future. The department has proposed the General Department of Vietnam Customs to equip the surveillance camera system and specialised equipment to improve the State management capacity on Customs in Phu Quoc- Hai said .

Phu Quoc Customs Branch will continue to perform State management on customs in Phu Quoc district, implementing the customs operational process in management for import and export goods; means of transport and passengers on entry and exit. Implementing the e-customs declaration for aircraft on exitand entry under the National Single Window. Directing customs officers to control in seaports, airways and other areas within the customs operation area; developing plans on preventing and arresting people for smuggling and trade fraud, meeting the requirements of socio-economic development in Phu Quoc.