Deputy Director General of Vietnam Customs Mai Xuan Thanh welcomes the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India in Vietnam

At the reception, Deputy Director General of Vietnam Customs Mai Xuan Thanh expressed his delight at the delegation visiting Vietnam Customs. He said he expected both Vietnam and India will soon overcome tough times to develop during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Scene of the meeting. Photo: H.Nụ

Verma said that this was the first time he had visited Vietnam Customs and expected the relationship between Vietnam and India would continue to be improved.

India always gave priority to Vietnamese enterprises and the Vietnamese market in the supply chain and trade cooperation. India has also exchanged with many Vietnamese enterprises in many fields and they can supply raw material for the Indian market after the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the difficulties caused to the economy by the pandemic, Covid-19 has also brought the cooperation relationship between countries closer.

However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many Indian businesses faced difficulties related to certificates of origin (C/O) and documents for cargo quarantine of goods exporting from India to Vietnam. It has affected and caused damage to enterprises of both countries. Therefore, the Indian side hoped Vietnam and Vietnam Customs in particular would soon solve this problem for Indian businesses to minimise economic losses for both sides, Verma said.

Regarding this issue, according to Deputy Director General Mai Xuan Thanh, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has received a diplomatic note from the Embassy of India and other countries requesting the reception and processing of C/O in the context of impact caused by implementing pandemic prevention measures.

With these petitions, Vietnam Customs reported to the Ministry of Finance to promulgate a circular guiding the implementation to facilitate enterprises, including accepting electronic C/O or temporary copies to fullfil cargo clearance.

The Ministry of Finance has almost completed the procedures as prescribed and is waiting for appraisal to promulgate. The General Department of Vietnam Customs will inform the Embassy immediately after the circular is issued. The General Department of Vietnam Customs will also immediately update this issue on the Vietnam Customs Portal for businesses to grasp the information, Deputy Director General Mai Xuan Thanh emphasised.

Deputy General Director Mai Xuan Thanh added that Vietnam Customs would inspect consignments of Indian enterprises which are backlogged at the port and would have specific instructions for businesses to fullfil cargo clearance quickly, creating the best conditions for production and business activities of enterprises.