Vietnam Customs to host 33rd ASEAN Directors-General of Customs Meeting

	Director General of Vietnam Customs attends the 32nd meeting of the ASEAN Directors-General of Customs
	Vietnam Customs will assume the Chairmanship of the 33rd meeting of the ASEAN Directors-General of Customs

GDVC’s Representatives chairs the press conference introducing the 33rd ASEAN Directors-General of Customs Meeting. Photo: H.N

Speaking at the press conference introducing the major event on May 21, Nguyen Thi Viet Nga Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department under the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC), said this is the 4th time that Vietnam has hosted the meeting after the first, second, and third in 1995, 2004 and 2014.

The event will draw participation of about 100 international from 10 customs administrations of ASEAN member States delegates led by Directors General, Timor Lester Customs as an observer and the ASEAN Secretariat, along with leaders of customs administrations of partner countries, international organisations and the private sector, Nga said.

The meeting will discuss various contents, including programs and solutions to achieve the goals identified in the ASEAN Customs Development Strategy Plan for 2021-2025.

In additions, the meeting will focus on priority contents such as exchanging e-documents through the ASEAN Single Window, implementing the ASEAN Customs Transit System (ACTS), and roadmap for implementing the ASEAN Authorized Economic Operator Mutual Recognition Agreement.

The meeting will be an opportunity for ASEAN customs administrations to improve dialogue and consultation with ASEAN dialogue partners to fulfil goals in line with economic with the economic development in the new period such as green customs, building a customs data ecosystem, customs modernization, electronic data exchange and customs management for e-commerce and streamlining customs procedures for low-value shipments, Nga said.

Notably, as the Chairmanship of the most important meeting of ASEAN Customs, Vietnam Customs makes great effort to fulfil its responsibility in ASEAN, thereby enhancing Vietnam Customs’ position and role, a pillar member agency of the ASEAN economic community, and actively participate and promote Vietnam’s role in multilateral mechanisms, especially ASEAN.

Accordingly, Vietnam Customs prepares to successfully organize the event and meetings of the Coordinating Committee on Customs and Technical Working groups during the Chairmanship of Vietnam Customs from June 2024 to June 2025, enhancing Vietnam's prestige and position in international arena.

As the Chairmanship of ASEAN Customs for the 2024-2025 term, GDVC will make great effort to actively coordinate with other countries to implement the roadmap on schedule with priority contents on single window, transit and mutual recognition of authorized economic operator; and encourage countries to exchange and update information, share experiences and lessons in the actual implementation process, narrowing the gap between member customs administrations, Nga emphasized.

Vietnam Customs actively coordinates with the ASEAN Secretariat to exchange and consult with partners and seek appropriate support resources in implementing ASEAN Customs' operational initiatives, especially for emerging contents related to customs control.

Initiatives proposed at the meeting on Green Customs, enhancing connectivity, and sharing information on customs control will be supported and implemented by customs administrations in the next period.

GDVC hopes that with contributions within its scope and capabilities, the country’s top regulator will cooperate with other countries towards a common goal in the integration process of ASEAN Customs, building a prosperous and sustainable ASEAN Economic Community and realising ASEAN's motto “A region of development and prosperity for all people”, “One ASEAN - One identity - One vision”.