Smart Border Gate: Modern Trade Connection Platform

Mr. Ho Tien Thieu, Chairman of Lang Son Provincial People's Committee

Since the Prime Minister approved the Project, how has Lang Son province researched and developed a specific implementation plan, sir?

After approval, the leaders of Lang Son Provincial People's Committee held a meeting to disseminate the basic contents of the Project, assigned tasks to departments, branches, and districts, in which identified a number of priority tasks that need to be done immediately, and at the same time, in early September 2024, organized field inspections and surveys, determined locations, and developed investment plans for projects within the scope of the Project. Based on the directives of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in early October, by October 24, 2024, the Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 239/KH-UBND to implement the Project with specific content and implementation roadmap.

Accordingly, the Project will focus on developing and signing with the People's Government of the Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guangxi, China) on the mechanism for meetings and exchanges; reviewing and adjusting construction planning and land use plans; implementing investment preparation procedures in the Project; completing infrastructure investment; developing regulations and guidelines on implementation and operation; propaganda; managing and operating smart navigation vehicles participating in the Project.

In order to ensure the implementation of the Project according to the roadmap, how has Lang Son province prepared resources and funding, sir?

According to the Project, the expected funding source for implementation comes from the state budget and socialized investment. Of which, the state budget source is about VND1,337 billion to implement items such as: building and expanding specialized routes for transporting goods, building inter-sectoral working houses for functional forces and purchasing specialized equipment. Socialized investment source is about VND6,631 billion to implement items of logistics infrastructure, infrastructure and solutions on information technology, means of transport, machinery and equipment.

Regarding the State budget funding source, after the Project was approved, on August 30, 2024, the People's Committee of Lang Son province issued Decision No. 1529/QD-UBND assigning additional State budget expenditure estimates for 2024 with a total budget of VND900 million to agencies and funding units to implement a number of urgent tasks that must be carried out immediately. Regarding the remaining funding source, the People's Committee of Lang Son province has submitted to the Prime Minister a proposal to arrange the Central budget to invest in infrastructure construction to implement the Project. Regarding the source of socialized investment, Lang Son province is developing a plan and mechanism to attract investment from non-budgetary sources, working with interested enterprises and investors to discuss related contents to serve the implementation of the Project. The Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee has also issued a policy on the plan to attract investment from non-state budget sources to implement the Project.

Along with preparing resources and funding, whether Lang Son province has discussed with the Chinese side to speed up the progress; proactively connected to select construction sites and technical issues, methods when officially operating?

On the basis of the Framework Agreement, Lang Son province and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region regularly discuss to promote the implementation of the Framework Agreement. Accordingly, Lang Son province has organized 3 working groups to conduct field surveys at Qinzhou port; Cam Ky, Mao Do, Inner Mongolia border gates and the implementation of the Smart Border Gate in Pingxiang, Guangxi; chaired the organization of 1 conference, 1 meeting, sent 10 working letters to discuss the progress of each side, discussed technical parameters of IGV vehicles, design diagrams, route directions, research results, calculations on operation and effectiveness of the Project; data connection, infrastructure, vehicle management, control software, etc.

At the same time, on November 14, 2024, Lang Son province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Mechanism for online meetings and exchanges.

What are your comments on the import-export process through Smart Border Gate, what advantages and disadvantages will it bring to the participating parties, especially the business community and the Customs agency?

The implementation of the construction of Smart Border Gate is in line with the Government's digital transformation orientation to improve the capacity and efficiency of goods clearance; publicity, transparency, reducing costs for businesses, ensuring the circulation of goods, not disrupting the supply chain when there are natural disasters and epidemics; contributing to improving the quality of goods, increasing the State budget revenue. Smart Border Gate is the implementation of adding a new method of goods delivery through the use of technology, unmanned means of transport to automatically transport import and export goods within a certain range, in addition to the traditional method of goods delivery is still maintained to operate simultaneously. The inspection and control procedures and operations of the functional forces (Border Guard, Customs, Quarantine) at the border gate are basically not affected (still being implemented normally at the locations for gathering and inspecting import and export goods); the pilot contents are all included in the provisions of current legal documents, so they do not affect the internal regulations on the management of import and export goods clearance activities.

However, the implementation of the Project will have certain difficulties and challenges in the process of organization and implementation, especially the management and control of import and export vehicles and goods by smart navigation vehicles must be strictly, continuously and smoothly 24/7. During the implementation of the Project, the People's Committee of Lang Son province will continue to coordinate with ministries, branches and units to complete the contents related to the Project, creating favorable conditions for import and export activities, improving customs clearance efficiency, and reducing costs for businesses.

Thank you, sir!