Ba Ria – Vung Tau Customs: Achieve great results in implementing automatic supervision at seaport

Monitoring the automatic customs supervision system at seaports in the first day of implementation at the BR-VT Customs Department. Picture: Nguyễn Huế.

According to the BR-VT Customs Department, after 4 deployment stages with 14 enterprises participating in the connection, the implementation process for each unit was done scientifically, there are no technical problems causing cargo congestion, obstructing production and business activities of enterprises. After 6 months of implementation, 100% of cargoes at ports which are within the scope of professional operation have been implemented on the system, including 2.4 million tons of exported goods, over 1.4 tons of imported goods, and over 1,900 declarations through the surveillance area.

To achieve the above results, according to the BR-VT Customs Department, the unit has done well in preparation for the implementation, from the planning, establishment of deployment board at department level, deployment unit at department and branch levels, to the training session for customs officials, shipping companies and port enterprises. When the decision was issued for conducting the pilot at the end of December 2017, the unit conducted the connection with the first two ports which were Cai Mep international CMIT port and petroleum port of Hai Linh Co., Ltd. In the process of deploying the system, the unit has arranged staff continuously to support the units deployed at both departmental and branch level. At Customs Branches, the group would support to deal with problems arising directly within the scope of the unit. General issues which incur a larger scope would be dealt by the support group at the department level.

In addition, BR-VT Customs Department appointed Customs officials to support enterprises to carry out software testing conveniently at the General Department of Vietnam Customs. Enterprises which participated in the test were guided specifically and thoughtfully, and provided software by arranging means of transport in Hanoi in order to ensure the time and schedule. Before testing, the support units at department level also worked on a case-by-case partnership with the Testing Department at the General Department of Vietnam Customs to prepare information related to the interconnection of the system in order to meet the requirements and ensure the testing ran smoothly.

During the implementation, the Support group regularly contacted and discussed with each other about problems as well as actively coordinated with the Technical Support Team of Thai Son Company, which is the unit that provided software inside enterprises and coordinated with the support team at the General Department of Customs to guide enterprises and the customs supervision division on the correct operation for ensuring the information exchange and processing ran smoothly.

The successful implementation of the first phase of the project of automatic customs supervision and management for export and import goods in transit in major seaports at BR-VT has not only contributed positively to the current reform of Customs sector, improved the management effectiveness as well as actively supported the production and business activities of the enterprises, but it has also affirmed the positive relations between the customs and local business community in BR-VT area. According to Mr. Tran Minh Truong, Deputy Director of Vung Tau Port Trading Joint Stock Company, the implementation of automatic customs supervision system has solved many administrative procedural problems between customs authorities with port businesses and customers of enterprises. It has not only helped businesses save on procedures such as, papers and time, this system has also helped port enterprises to control the goods in the port. Particularly, with the participation of the system, the relationship between the port enterprises and customers, between the port enterprises and the Customs authorities have become closer and brought out very good work results.

On the side of the Customs authority, Mr. Le Van Thung, Deputy Director of BR-VT Customs Department, said that following the VNACCS system, automatic customs supervision system at seaports confirmed the determination of the Customs authorities in the reform of administrative procedures, facilitating enterprises in import-export activities. After 6 months of implementation, the system certainly achieved successful results beyond expectations and was greatly appreciated by the business community. This was also the basis for the unit to continue to connect with the remaining 3 ports of Saigon New Port Corporation, which are expected to be connected in the third quarter.

According to the BR-VT Customs Department, regarding the remaining 3 ports, the unit has developed a deployment plan to survey the current status of enterprises, disseminate and prepare to connect these ports into the system. It is known that Tan Cang Corporation has also studied the process, conducted a survey, assessed the status quo, designed and built software for technical infrastructure. After making the connection at Cat Lai port (HCMC), it will connect to Cai Mep port (BR-VT). Along with the connection with the remaining 3 ports, BR-VT Customs Department would complete the connection of automatic customs supervision system with all seaport enterprises in the area.