The Customs sector actively listens to voices from the business community

What makes difficulties for Customs sector in budget collection?

Leaders of Bac Ninh Customs Department listen to representatives of Foxconn Group sharing business goals for 2023. Photo: Quang Hung

Let's sit back and listen

In recent years, the Customs sector has had many activities accompanying businesses, especially in efforts to reform and modernize customs. According to the representative of the Legal Department (General Department of Customs), dialogues and meetings with businesses are not only regular activities of the Customs agency but also one of the forms of propaganda, support and updating key legal information of the sector. Through dialogue sessions, in addition to helping the business community improve awareness and ability to enforce customs laws, the Customs agency can promptly remove and answer difficulties and problems for import-export enterprises. Thereby, making the Customs - Enterprise relationship truly a cooperative partner in implementing and complying with the law.

Managing more than 6,000 import-export enterprises, including many large corporations such as Samsung and Foxconn, in recent times, Bac Ninh Customs Department has always considered building and developing customs-enterprise partnerships and related parties as a prior factor. Every year, the unit organizes many working groups, directly led by department leaders, to work with businesses to listen to difficulties and problems and record recommendations.

Noting through the discussions, Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of Viet Trung Co., Ltd. said that the interaction between the Customs agency and the business community is very important. Customs authorities have considered businesses as cooperative partners to accompany them to better complete their tasks. In fact, exchanging, interacting, and sitting together more often, giving both sides time to listen and come up with timely solutions, clearly demonstrates the efforts of both parties.

Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan also said that at the present time, during the process of carrying out procedures, businesses that encounter any problems will be immediately answered and guided by the Customs agency. If previously we had to wait until the dialogue period, now directing guidance and answers anytime, anywhere has helped save time and provide timely support for businesses to meet delivery conditions for partners.

In Nghe An Customs area, branches regularly send officials to directly guide businesses in declaring customs procedures, promptly handle problems, and prevent businesses from having to bear any additional costs arising during the procedure process. This has created confidence for the business community engaged in import and export of goods. Mr. Le Viet Thuong, representative of Minh Hieu Import-Export Co., Ltd. said that Nghe An Customs' interest in listening to voices, aspirations and accompanying businesses is very practical.

The representative of Minh Hieu Import-Export Co., Ltd. also acknowledged the proactive "hands-on" work of each civil servant at the customs management branch in supporting foreign enterprises investing and doing business in the area to fully grasp the regulations, legal policies, understand and solve internal difficulties when implementing procedures.

Set performance goals

From the beginning of 2023 until now, our country's economy has faced huge difficulties. With the desire to record and promptly grasp issues related to the customs field, join hands with businesses to improve the efficiency of import-export production and business, in recent times, the Customs agency has synchronously deployed measures. The Customs sector determined that reforming administrative procedures, promoting digital transformation, improving the quality and efficiency of professional activities, and facilitating import-export activities are key tasks throughout the year. That creates new motivation for businesses to recover and make breakthroughs, continuing to contribute to economic growth.

Specifically, implementing Resolution 01/NQ-CP of the Government, the Customs sector continues to review, supplement, amend and complete the system of legal documents on customs to meet management requirements in the current situation. The new model helps improve the business investment environment and enhance national competitiveness.

Right from the beginning of the year, the Customs sector assigned 10 groups of reform targets accompanied by solutions for implementation. Notably, there is a 5% reduction in the Red channel declaration rate, a 10% reduction in the Yellow channel declaration rate; Reduce customs clearance and release time by 10%; Increase the number of businesses voluntarily participating in the Program to support and encourage businesses to voluntarily comply with customs laws by 20% compared to 2022, etc.

The Customs sector sets a goal that after 2 years of implementing the Program to support and encourage businesses to voluntarily comply with customs laws, 100% of participating businesses will not be handled for violations of customs laws, be assessed the level of legal compliance at level 2 (high compliance), level 3 (average compliance). And after 5 years of implementing the program, through support activities and voluntary compliance of businesses, strive to increase the rate of businesses complying with levels 2 and 3 to over 20% of the total number of businesses operating import and export activities.

Another program that has been implemented for many years - the Customs Priority Enterprise Program - has shown positive effects in creating favorable conditions for import-export enterprises. Up to now, the Customs agency has applied priority regime to 72 enterprises, including 25 Vietnamese enterprises. In 2022, priority enterprises will only account for a small proportion of about 85,000 import-export enterprises, but account for about 36% of the country's total import-export turnover, reaching about 266 billion USD.

To further support and protect honest businesses, the Customs sector also strengthens the effectiveness of state management of customs, combating smuggling and trade fraud. Therefore, the Customs sector hopes that businesses will continue to coordinate and respond to the Customs sector to develop more diverse Customs-Enterprise partnership activities. The companionship, dynamism, and creativity of the business community will be an important factor in creating success and development.

According to a representative of the Legal Department, the Customs agency wants businesses to be more proactive in responding to difficulties and problems when enforcing the law. Simultaneously, actively contribute and propose solutions to management agencies in developing, amending and supplementing laws related to taxes and customs to ensure feasibility, fairness, transparency, ease of understanding and implementation of legal documents. Customs authorities and businesses need to understand each other and agree when implementing their policies and obligations for the common goal of facilitating and contributing to socio-economic development.