Vietnam Customs affirms position in digital transformation of World Customs

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The representative of Vietnam Customs informs the representatives of customs administrations of countries about the event of the 2023 WCO Conference and Technology Exhibition in Hanoi, Vietnam.

This is a global conference on the application of emerging technologies that is topical and consistent with the priorities of Vietnam in general and Vietnam's Customs in particular.

Exchange and share experiences with Customs administrations of countries

The application of modern technology and digital transformation is a priority of the Government of Vietnam. In the field of customs, the Prime Minister's Decision No. 628/QD-TTg dated May 20, 2022 approving the Customs Development Strategy to 2030 also sets out the basic goal of completing Digital Customs by 2025.

The overall objective of the Strategy is to build a regular and modern Vietnam Customs, on par with the customs administrations of developed countries in the world, leading in the implementation of Digital Government, with Digital Customs and smart Customs model. Since then, improving the quality of service to people and businesses in customs clearance and management.

Accordingly, to move towards building a digital Customs, a smart Customs model, Vietnam Customs needs to apply new and smart technologies of customs administrations of advanced countries in the world. In 2023, Vietnam Customs is selected by WCO as the host agency for the WCO Technology Conference and Exhibition. This is one of the most important annual events of the WCO and also a global conference on emerging technology applications, with a focus on digital transformation, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and blockchain, machine learning, internet of things. It is topical and consistent with the priorities of Vietnam in general and Vietnam's Customs in particular.

The theme of 2023 WCO Technology Exhibition and Conference is " “Embracing the Digital Age: Leveraging Technology, Fostering Innovation, and Nurturing the Next Generation of Customs Professionals". The conference is an opportunity to approach the application of technology and innovation in the Customs industry. The sessions will focus the topics of data analytics, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies; the increasing impacts of the volume of import and export goods in e-commerce transactions on customs procedures.

The hosting of the event by Vietnam Customs will affirm the contribution of Vietnam Customs in the framework of WCO. This is also the first time that Vietnam Customs has hosted a large-scale WCO global event, with the participation of WCO leaders, leaders of Customs administrations of other countries, as well as leading enterprises in the field of technology in the world.

According to Vietnam Customs, from the perspective of promoting the country’s image, with a large number of delegates expected to attend the conference, this is also an opportunity to introduce and promote to international friends about the famous landscapes, tourist attractions of Hanoi capital in particular and Vietnam in general.

Opportunity to approach and learn modern technology

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Viet Nga, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department (General Department of Customs), the conference is an opportunity for Vietnam Customs to share Vietnam Customs' efforts in modernizing and applying technology to digital transformation contents, building a smart Customs model, contributing to improving the image of Vietnam Customs.

“The hosting of the conference will also open up opportunities to exchange and learn experiences from other customs administrations in applying modern customs management technologies. At the exhibition, leading technology enterprises will introduce the most modern security and safety control technologies that Customs administrations are using or will use to ensure the trade flow with the goal of trade facilitation while still ensuring control for legal trade," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Viet Nga.

The conference is chaired by the WCO Secretary General, therefore, the General Department of Customs submitted to the Ministry of Finance to report to the Prime Minister for approval the coordination with the WCO to host the event in Hanoi from October 10 to 12 at the National Convention Center. According to the approval of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Finance (the General Department of Customs) is assigned to take the lead.

Accordingly, from the beginning of 2023, the representative of WCO also visited and worked with Vietnam Customs on the preparation for the conference and conducted an actual survey to select the place for the conference in Hanoi.

To prepare for the conference, Vietnam Customs established a Steering Committee led by Mr. Nguyen Van Tho - Deputy General Director of the General Department of Customs, and the participation of representatives of some Ministries, agencies, Hanoi People's Committee and units under the General Department of Customs and established assistance groups in charge of content; organization and communication.

In addition to coordinating with WCO in organizing conferences, reception events, and external relations to ensure the success of the conference, Vietnam Customs will also participate in discussion sessions as speakers and coordinators at the conference, Ms. Nguyen Thi Viet Nga said.

At the meeting of the Steering Committee for the 2023 WCO Technology Conference and Exhibition on July 26, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Customs Nguyen Van Tho said that Vietnam Customs is implementing the Customs development strategy by 2030. Under the strategy, Vietnam Customs sets the goal of “Taking reform and modernization as the basis; modernizing the customs management model as the focus, accelerating digital transformation in the Customs industry as the foundation for customs development in the new period. Therefore, the 2023 Technology Conference and Exhibition is an opportunity for Vietnam Customs to receive and consult science and technology and learn from experiences in applying and using high technology from Customs administrations and WCO.

Ensure the completion of the objectives and tasks in the Plan of Digital Transformation of the Customs Sector VCN - Focusing on consolidating the Digital Transformation Steering Committee of the General Department of Customs and ...

From this event, Vietnam Customs also hopes that WCO and Customs administrations of other countries will strengthen the connection, help each other to develop and effectively apply technology in customs management, supervision and control, said Deputy Director General Nguyen Van Tho.