Three lessons in implementing dual task of HCM City Customs

	HCM City Customs Department honors typical enterprises in 2021
	HCM City Customs makes efforts to maintain import and export flow
	HCM City Customs seizes 43kg of drugs and marijuana in express parcels

A Customs officer of HCM City Customs Department inspects imported goods. Photo: T.H

Valuable lessons during the pandemic

Director of HCM City Customs Department Dinh Ngoc Thang said the Covid-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges and threats but also provided valuable lessons in work performance. In order to achieve positive results in 2021, HCM City Customs implemented many solutions to realize the dual goals and support businesses, maintain and stabilize supply chains and ensure economic recovery during and after the pandemic.

The first lesson is to promote strength and maintain discipline: synthesize the strength of all cadres and civil servants with the spirit of initiative, creativity, dare to think, dare to do, dare to break barriers and overcome challenges; promote the tradition of solidarity, joint efforts and unanimity, with a quick response mechanism, flexible action, determination to complete all political tasks; maintain discipline and responsibility to set an example, ensure discipline and unity.

The second lesson is to accelerate reforms and technology application. Accordingly, Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department has made full use of achievements of administrative reforms and modernization of the Customs sector for the 2016-2020 period with five breakthroughs in risk management, comprehensive digital application, change in management thinking, building workforce and office culture, and building Customs-enterprise partnerships and stakeholders.

With a rate of 88% of online public services at level 4, the national single-window mechanism, and the electronic customs system, HCM City Customs Department has maintained 24/7 customs procedures for businesses, ensuring smooth customs clearance during social distancing period, combined technology - management - people through the application of the multi-platform ecosystem of the HCAS system into operation and management, thereby ensuring operation 24 hours per day during extended social distancing periods.

The third lesson of solidarity from the central to the local level. In 2021, especially when the pandemic worsened, Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department received close guidance, attention and support from leaders at all levels. This is a prerequisite and a driving force for the Customs Department to overcome difficulties and perform its duties well.

Persistently perform fundamental tasks

According to HCM City Customs Department, the world, region and country in 2022 will still face unpredictable developments and the Covid-19 pandemic which will be a chance for the city’s social-economic recovery and development.

At the beginning of 2022, the RCEP Agreement came into force, and new-generation FTAs ​​such as the CPTPP and EVFTA will open a super-highway with a market of more than 2.5 billion and the size of the economy accounting for more than 50% of global GDP. This is an opportunity for the city to seize and occupy a piece of the market share of these potential markets.

It is identified that digital transformation includes not only efforts to upgrade hardware, software and data, but also human resource development to master digital platforms. In 2022 and the following years, HCM City Customs Department persistently performs fundamental tasks to improve the quality of human resources, promote the application and development of science, technology, and innovation.

Accordingly, HCM City Customs will continue building many breakthrough reform and modernization programs according to the Customs development strategy for the 2021-2030 period with the core goal of building a modern and professional HCM City Customs Department on par with Customs administrations of developed countries around the world based on digital application and advanced science.

Along with that, HCM City will pioneer in building a digital government, with a digital customs model, smart customs, reform the model of quality inspection, customs clearance and centralized management.

HCM City Customs will effectively manage tax revenue from import and export activities, both facilitate legal cross-border trade, tourism and transportation activities and ensure security and social safety, and protect national interests and sovereignty.

This customs sector will also promote training so that customs officers can master technology, modern management and meet the requirements of the tasks in the digital economy era.

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