Customs integrity project contributes to ensure effectiveness and transparency in customs operations

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Sir, why does the Customs sector need to develop a Customs integrity project?

Customs integrity was first included in the agenda of the World Customs Organization (WCO) in the early 1990s. By 1993, the WCO adopted the Arusha Declaration with key contents addressing the WCO's efforts in strengthening integrity and fighting corruption. Since then, the WCO and the Customs agencies around the world, despite their different levels of development, have placed great importance on building and maintaining high levels of integrity in customs operations.

For Vietnam’s Customs sector, the issue of improving integrity and anti-corruption is always highlighted by leaders of the Ministry of Finance and the General Department of Customs.

However, the facts shows that despite many efforts and positive results, the overall continuation of building and maintaining high levels of integrity and the fight against corruption in public agencies, including the Customs sector, still have many shortcomings, limitations, and inefficiencies.

Therefore, continuing research to find effective solutions to fight against corruption and improving customs integrity is always ahigh prioritylong-term project.

Being aware of the importance of anti-corruption and strengthening integrity, the leaders of the General Department of Customs have assigned the task of "Researching and developing a project to improve the efficiency of customs integrity in Vietnam."Particularly proposing and applying solutions to ensure the effectiveness and transparency in the implementation of administrative procedures, improving the cleanliness and operational efficiency of customs officers as well as the entire customs system.

What are the main and remarkable contents mentioned in the project, sir?

At any time, the important requirement for Customs is to operate transparently and effectively, bringing benefits to the business community and the country.... Therefore, the Project focuses on researching solutions to improve customs integrity to meet that demand. Creating a healthy working environment, improving customs professional ethics, effective state management, contributing to reducing costs for businesses, preventing corruption, investigating smuggling and commercial fraud and creating an equal business environment for the business community.

The project highlights comprehensive anti-corruption issues and enhances customs integrity, with particular emphasis on human resource factors and the shift from awareness to thinking and action of customs officers.

On the other hand, the Project not only mentions the integrity of each individual, but also analyzes other factors to ensure integrity in each organization and customs unit.

The project also analyzes the requirements of the integrity issues, thereby proposing the content of specific implementation plans to provide solutions.

In order to achieve the target, in your opinion, what are the important points that we need to focus on implementation?

Of particular importance is that the project has given 10 specific solution groups.

First, the solution onthe institutional system. In particular, determining the important content to continue to improve the institutional system, customs procedures towards complying with Free Trade Agreements, Trade Facilitation Agreement, Customs Law, Import and export tax, Law on Promulgation of legal documents and meeting electronic customs model.

Second, the solutionon customs procedures, customs inspection and supervision.

The important goal in this solution is that customs procedures are carried out "everywhere - anytime - every means", customs declarants make declarations everywhere, 24/7, on fixed or mobile devices. The proposed time for customs clearance of goods is under 36 hours for export goods and 41 hours for imported goods; standardize customs procedures; fully deploy and improve the operational efficiency of the electronic customs clearance system.

Third, the solution is on tax administration. The goal is to accommodate businesses in payment of import and export costs, simplify parts of the procedure, reduce clearance time, and carry out customs procedures towards online public services at the level of 3-4, facilitate businesses and people andincreasetheprocessing speed of Customs authorities.

Fourth, on customs control with the aim of improving the efficiency of customs control through improving the legal basis of customs control; applying and fully exploiting information technology and modern equipment;smoothly combining and synchronizing modern and traditional customs control methods.

Fifth, solutions on risk management. The goal for 2020 and beyond is that risk management is implemented and applied throughout all customs operations to create transparency, effectiveness and efficiency in customs management activities, reduce inspection rates, costs for businesses, and reduce the inspection rate of Yellow and Red Lanes.

Sixth, solutions on post-customs clearance inspection. The objective is to build a post-clearance inspection system within the Customs development strategy to 2020 and beyondin a modern, professional and intensive manner in accordance with international standards. Auniform and effective operation in the whole sector based on the application of modern information technology and risk management methods, meeting the management requirements of the development and modernization of the Customs sector. Customs inspection is shifted from pre-check to post-check, ensuring consistency in control of pre-internal and post-clearance stages in order to maximize convenience for legal import and export activities of enterprises, at the same time to ensure management requirements.

Seventh, solutions on organizational structure and human resource training. The important goal is to improve the efficiency of human resource management, improve the capacity of customs officers on the basis of standardized professional management and human resource management regulations, and to be professional and intensive with a high integrity level.

In addition, the General Department of Customs will direct the units in the sector to develop a framework to assess staff capacity to implement the Project of arranging the position of customs officers under the Resolution of the 7th session of the 12th Party Central Committee.

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Eighth, solutions on inspection and inspection. It will regularly consolidate and supplement forces to advise on inspection and directly carry out inspection tasks in the Customs sector.

In particular, the General Department of Customs will study and report to the Ministry of Finance on the implementation of the coordinated anti-corruption between the Customs and the Party Committee and local authorities where customs organizations operate.

Ninth, the solution on information technology.

Tenth, solutions on customs-business partnerships.

Thank you, sir!