Director General of Vietnam Customs Nguyen Van Can:Vietnam Customs sets higher development goals in the new period

	Director General Nguyen Van Can works with Hanoi Customs Department on smart customs model
	Determined to build smart Customs, DG Nguyen Van Can
	DG Nguyen Van Can encourages customs officers to overcome pandemic

Trade facilitation contributes to achieving the trade of US$600 billion:

In 2021, by overcoming many difficulties and challenges, the customs control has obtained comprehensive results. Could you tell us about the outstanding achievements of the Customs sector in the year, please?

Director General Nguyen Van Can:

The General Department of Vietnam Customs has assessed the situation and provided solutions to perform tasks in line with reality and fulfill the goal of Covid-19 prevention and control while facilitating trade and ensuring customs control.

Motivated by the effective direction and facilitation by the Government and the Ministry of Finance, and great efforts of officers in the whole sector, Vietnam Customs has accomplished the set tasks.

The sector has participated in Covid-19 prevention and control, ensuring the safety of customs officers; facilitated trade and cleared goods flow amid congestion and disruption at border gates; quickly implemented customs clearance for medical supplies and equipment for disease control; exceeded the revenue target; achieved positive results in anti-smuggling and prevention of crimes, and implemented the Digital customs system and the Smart Customs model.

In addition, the post-clearance audit, inspection-examination, risk management, communication, international cooperation, capacity building have also achieved remarkable results.

Customs clearance at border gates is strictly controlled via the supervision system at the Center for Online Customs Control at the General Department of Vietnam Customs’ headquarters on August 26, 2021. Photo: Hong Nu.

2021 is the first time Vietnam’s trade surpassed the target of US$600 billion. Could you tell us about solutions for trade facilitation to obtain this impressive achievement?

Director General Nguyen Van Can:

Vietnam’s import and export turnover exceeded US$600 billion for the first time. The whole year’s trade saw a year-on-year increase of US$123 billion to US$668.544 billion. Of which, the country had a trade surplus of over US$4 billion. The Customs sector has played an important role in this achievement.

In fact, trade facilitation has been the key task of the Customs sector for many years. The Government, the National Steering Committee on ASEAN Single Window, National Single Window and Trade Facilitation (Committee 1899) has assigned the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) as the Standing Office of Committee 1899 since 2016.

The facilitation for the flow of imports and export has achieved positive results as follows:

Regarding customs procedures and supervision, Customs has accepted the submission of e-documents in customs dossiers for customs clearance, and established working teams to support and remove problems in customs procedures for imports and exports.

Facing cargo congestion at Cat Lai Port (in HCM City) in July and August 2021, the sector has directed customs units to allow businesses to transport containers to IDC in Binh Duong and Dong Nai. On the other hand, the sector advised and submitted to the Ministry of Finance for the promulgation of Circular 82/2021/TT-BTC stipulating customs control for imports that are transferred to border gates and congested or at risk of being stuck at seaports where social distancing measures are applied under Directive 16/CT-TTg dated March 31, 2020 of the Prime Minister.

The country’s top customs regulator has arranged sufficient officers working in operational units to perform on working days, holidays and outside working hours to clear goods in a timely fashion.

The Customs has also assigned officers to perform under the “three on-spot” model to prevent and control the pandemic and clear goods.

The sector has actively developed policies to support import and export operations amid the Covid-19 pandemic, including advising the Government to issue Resolution 106/NQ-CP dated September 11, 2021, regulating tax policy for imports for disease prevention and control.

The revenue collection is the highlight of the Customs sector in 2021. Could you provide more detail about the performance of this key task?

Director General Ngueyn Van Can:

In 2021, Customs collected VND378,889 billion, an increase of VND63,889 billion of the assigned target and VND43,889 billion of the ambitious target and VND64,420 billion compared with the previous year. This is the year the customs sector recorded the highest revenue that exceeded the target at the highest level.

Since early in the year, the GDVC issued Directive 215/CT-TCHQ dated January 15, 2021 implementing solutions for trade facilitation, improvement of efficiency of state management and anti-revenue loss; issued Official Dispatch 119/TCHQ-GSQL dated January 11, 2021, improving customs inspection and customs control capacity.

In addition, the sector has executed solutions for trade facilitation, anti-trade fraud and anti-revenue loss, contributing to the outstanding results of state revenue.

On the other hand, the country’s top customs agency has requested municipal and provincial customs departments to strengthen customs control and supervision; coordinated with tax authorities and other agencies to prevent VAT refund fraud.

Along with that, the departments are required to combat revenue loss by performing duties, checking customs procedures, implementing post-clearance audit, specialized inspection and combating smuggling and trade fraud; to regularly monitor and inspect to avoid fraud by taxpayers.

The effective performance of tax administration has contributed to the sufficient tax collection and anti-revenue loss.

On January 12, 2021 the Prime Minister signed Decision 38/QD-TTg approving the Scheme on reforming the model of quality inspection and food safety inspection for imports. Could you tell us about the key role of the quality and food safety inspections to boost trade facilitation?

Director General Nguyen Van Can:

The Scheme includes seven key contents that reform and improve the efficiency of management and facilitation to business operations. In fact, the Scheme is highly appreciated by the business community, business associations, domestic and international organizations.

According to an independent assessment by the USAID-funded Trade Facilitation project, the new model will reduce time and costs for businesses. The model is expected to save about US$399 million per year for the economy.

The Government assigned the GDVC to play the leading role in implementing the scheme.

The GDVC has actively coordinated with ministries and government agencies to perform relevant work, including submitting to the Government for the promulgation of a Decree stipulating the quality inspection and food safety inspection for imports. The decree is gathering comments from other agencies. The Customs sector will follow the Prime Minister’s direction.

Along with that, the country’s top customs regulator has collaborated with ministries and government agencies to arrange and add human resources and to perform quality inspection and food safety inspection in accordance with the road map.

What are the tasks set in 2022 for the implementation of the scheme, Sir?

Director General Nguyen Van Can:

As the Standing Officce of Committee 1899, the key task in 2022 of the Customs sector is to successfully execute the scheme.

The key tasks include submitting to the Government for promulgation a Decree stipulating quality inspection and food safety inspection for imports, coordinating with other agencies to arrange human resources, facilities, equipment to implement the Scheme.

The sector will consider implementing in major areas such as HCM City, Hai Phong, Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Lang Son.

The special plan HC421 is led by Ha Noi Customs Department from April 6 to April 27, 2021 in coordination with other customs units to seize a large quantity of synthetic drugs (MDMA) and Ketamine, arrest 16 suspects and tackle eight drug trafficking rings in Hanoi, Hai Duong, Binh Duong and HCM City. Photo: Ngoc Linh

Along with trade facilitation solutions, the Customs sector is considered a key force in the fight against smuggling, trade and origin fraud. Could you tell us about the achievements in 2021?

Director General Nguyen Van Can:

The GDVC has followed directions of the Government, the National Steering Committee 389, the Steering Committee 138/CP, and the Ministry of Finance, and provided drastic and flexible solutions.

The GDVC has issued plans and coordinated with forces such as Market Surveillance, Border Guard, Public Security, Coast Guard and local governments to exchange information and arrest smugglers, and promote domestic production.

In 2021, the Customs handled 14,568 cases with the value of infringing goods at VND2,709 billion. Of which, it fined 14,200 cases, contributing about VND291 billion, prosecuted 39 cases, and transferred 176 cases for prosecution.

Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of arrests by members of the 389 National Steering Committees plunged compared with 2020. However, the number of cases detected by the Customs authorities rose by 10%, showing the efficiency of anti-smuggling at the borders, border gates and other customs control arears.

Notably, the GDVC’s leader has directed units to strengthen measures to combat smuggling medicine and medical supplies for prevention and control of the public health crisis. Thereby, detecting and seizing many violations. The Customs seized 80,000 tablets for Covid-19 treatment smuggled from India to Vietnam via air in September and October 2021.

The Post-Clearance Audit Department inspected and detected violations related to the import of cashew nuts from Cambodia.

The Customs sector continues to tackle many transnational drug crime rings. For example, Ha Noi Customs Department and Police force tackled a transnational drug trafficking ring from the EU to Vietnam, dealt with eight drug trafficking rings in provinces and seized 127.5kg of Ketamine and arrested 16 suspects.

The GDVC’s Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department coordinated with other forces to implement special plan HK668 (May 2021), seized 280kg of Ketamine, and arrested five suspects.

On November 4, Director General of Vietnam Customs Nguyen Van Can works with Hanoi Customs Department on the Smart Customs Model. Photo: Ngoc Linh

Launching the Digital Customs System and the Smart Customs Model:

The GDVC mobilized resources to develop the Digital Customs System and the Smart Customs Model in 2021. What is the significance of the system?

Director General Nguyen Van Can:

In the process of developing the Customs Development Strategy for the 2021-2030 period, the Customs sector has set the overall goal to build a professional and modern Vietnam Customs, on par with the customs of developed countries in the world, leading in implementing Digital Government, with Digital Customs System and Smart Customs model.

The Ministry of Finance approved "the policy of building a smart customs model that is consistent with the practical development of advanced technology, science in the world and in Vietnam”. The leaders of the Ministry of Finance signed Decision 97/QD-BTC approving the policy of "Outsourcing information technology services to build Digital Customs".

The successful performance of the Smart Customs model will create a breakthrough and enhance the development level of Vietnam Customs in the new period.

The implementation of the Digital Customs System and the Smart Customs model is a huge workload. In order to complete this task, the GDVC’s leader directed and worked with some major customs departments.

The sector has assigned a large number of officers in the GDVC and local customs departments to develop and complete works related to professional operation and information technology; carried out procedures on outsourcing information technology services.

Director General Nguyen Van Can works with Hai Phong Customs Department on the implementation of the Digital Customs System and Smart Customs Model on November 24, 2021. Photo: Thai Binh.

Could you tell us the advantages of the Digital Customs System and Smart Customs Model in the process of customs reform and modernization? What are the requirements for the whole sector to launch the system?

Director General Nguyen Van Can:

The Digital Customs system and Smart Customs model has a high automatic level, applying advanced science and technology based on a digital, paperless platform, ensuring transparency, fairness and effectiveness, efficiency, and capable of forecasting and adapting to fluctuations in international trade and meeting requirements on customs control and information exchange with ministries and government agencies, and international standards.

The Smart Customs model includes the following basic features: smart border management; chain management and digital ecosystem; providing optimal services; connecting and processing information in a smart manner; transparency and fairness.

The Smart Customs System has the key task of outsourcing information technology services to build Digital Customs, which is the key solution to implement contents related to the smart customs model.

The successful implementation of the Digital Customs System and Smart Customs model will meet the requirements on smart administration; control businesses, imports and exports and transit goods, means of transport on entry, exit and transit; integrate and connect information with ministries and government agencies and businesses via the National Single Window and exchange customs data with countries in the region and the world.

In order to successfully implement the system, customs officers are required to improve awareness, responsibility, knowledge and skills, especially the heads of customs branches. In 2022, units in the entire customs sector needs to take the initiative to perform the digital customs system and smart customs model.

SETTING NEW DEVELOPMENT GOALS

2022 has significance in setting development goals of Vietnam Customs in the new period. Could you tell us about key tasks of the Customs sector in 2022?

Director General Nguyen Van Can:

In 2022, the whole Customs sector will focus on performing key task groups such as: reforming administrative procedures, submitting to the Government for the promulgation of a decree stipulating management mechanisms, methods and procedures for quality inspection and food safety inspection for imports, a decree on customs control for imports and exports transacted via e-commerce, a decree on information connection and exchange via the National Single Window, and the Decree amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree 08/2015/ND-CP and Decree 59/2018/ND- CP to meet the requirements on executing the Digital Customs and the Smart Customs model.

Regarding revenue collection, the sector strives to achieve and exceed the target of VND352,000 billion. To complete this task, the GDVC issued a directive on assigning the revenue collection with specific solutions and tasks to each unit.

Regarding the implementation of Digital Customs, the Smart Customs model,the entire sector needs to fulfill relevant works to pilot these soon. This requires the great efforts of all customs officers.

In 2022, smuggling activities are forecasted to continue in all sectors, regimes and areas. Therefore, the customs need to strengthen measures to combat this issue in a comprehensive manner and promote the application of advanced equipment and technology.

Regarding customs capacity building, the customs need to strengthen discipline and regulations, enhance responsibility in performing duties. The Customs continues follow Decree 02/2021/ND-CP.

Customs capacity building is always a key task. What are the requirements for customs officers in the foreseeable future?

Director General Nguyen Van Can:

The Customs officers need to focus on performing the internal work, including customs integrity; maintaining discipline and regulations; restructuring the organizational apparatus towards a streamlined, effective and efficient operation; strengthening international cooperation to enhance the role and position of Vietnam Customs.

Officers and heads of customs units at all levels must meet requirements on qualification, capacity, and prestige to perform the Digital Customs System and the Smart Customs model.

Officers need to improve moral qualities; enhance capacity and qualification; tighten administrative regulations; strictly follow the regulations on wearing uniforms to build the image of professional and modern Customs officers.

On the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2022, on behalf of the GDVC’s leadership, I wish all customs officers in the country a year filled with Health, Peace, Happiness and Success!

Thanks to the Director General and your family, and we wish a Happy and Prosperous New Year!