Automating the management of air cargo –enhancing competition in international trade

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As the department assigned by the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) to pilot the National Single Window and the Automated System for Aviation Customs management, could you tell us about the achievement of the implementation?

After the piloting and gradual improvement of the system, the Ha Noi Customs Department has worked with agencies of the General Department of Vietnam Customs and relevant units to prepare for the official implementation of the National Single Window and the Automated System for Aviation Customs management for import, export and transit goods at Noi Bai International Airport. So far, the system has met requirementsset out for official deployment at Noi Bai International Airport.

During the implementation, Ha Noi Customs Department has closely coordinated with the GDVC’s departments and relevant agencies in developing regulations, installing technical infrastructure and software, and coordinated with businesses to pilot and handle arising operational problems and system errors. At the same time, it has coordinated with warehouse and port operators and airlines to run real data and with ahigh automated rate. Sofar, it has basically completed the pilot deployment, ensuring the official implementation.

How has Customs authority received businesses’ feedback about the new system, Sir?

Because this is the new system, during deployment the Customs, businesses and related parties are still confused. It is necessary to organize instructions and training. So far, most businesses said that the system has operated smoothly, thoroughly handled errors, the automated rate of the system has been increased, allowing businesses to actively grasp information on goods and airlines to actively receive goods. The Customs receives goods information soon, so it can analyze origin and type of goods before businesses open declarations. With this process, businesses said that the system has improved the level of customs automation and helped businesses control risks better.

How do you evaluate the efforts of the parties involved in the deployment?

This is a new system with the participation of many relevant parties, including Customs, airlines and air cargo terminals to establish legal requirements and software construction. Customs is only a party involved in building internal Customs software. In addition, the airlines must complete the software connected to Customs through online service and Sita network that are international networks of the airlines to exchange information, or air cargo terminals must build software connected to the Customs.

The deployment of an automated system for Aviation Customs management has many differences compared to the sea way. The data standard of air way is much more than the seaway. Each international airline connected to the Customs system must haveits own standards and customs must meet all these requirements. Customs has made great efforts to receive as much information and data as possible to connect to the Customs system for analysis.In addition, before the system was launched, enterprises did not know about goods identification codes, but after the system waslaunched, enterprises are familiar with goods identification codes of each shipment before arrival to Vietnam.It is a process that requires all parties to access and deploy synchronously like ID cards which areissued for each person with a unique number, and goods arethe same, each shipment also has a unique code for management.

What do the results of the pilot play indeveloping international aviation trade, sir?

Customs and relevant units are aware the key role of the system deployment. Because the aviation industry is in charged of transporting a huge volume of goods while the value of the shipment is very high, so the transportation must be fast, accurate and in accordance with international standards.

Countries aroundthe world have developed standards meeting requirements on issuing airway bill by export side, import side can receive and approve for customs clearance. Therefore, if we do not do this, it will be difficult to deploy e-airway bill in the future. It is the most important factor for the parties to force their efforts. On the one hand, for the state management agencies to obtain information, to serve the management, on the other hand, the goods of enterprises are cleared quickly and accurately, helping the cost of airways to be kept at a minimum, to help businesses become more competitive than in international aviation trade.