Enhance the role of enterprises in customs modernization reform

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The conference. Photo: Kim Lien

The conference was attended by 70 import-export enterprises, business associations and enterprise branches in the central region

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Deputy Head of the Customs Modernization Reform Committee, Hoang Dinh Trung said that besides talking about Customs modernization in 2018, through this conference, Customs authority, business associations and importers and exporters discussed measures to improve and enhance the transparency, professionalism and service quality of the Customs, which emphasized the role of the business associations, partners and importers and exporters in cooperation and accompanying with customs authority to fulfil the targets.

At the conference, the units under the General Department of Customs informed enterprises and business associations of a number of key activities in the Customs reform 2018 such as: online public administrative procedures; National Single Window, ASEAN Single Window; the specialized inspection project; automated system for seaport Customs management (VASSCM).

Besides, in the framework of the conference, participants were informed about the implementation of Customs reform in human resources and the supervision duty performance of Customs officers at all levels.

In the field of specialized inspections, as the leading unit, in coordination with relevant ministries to implement the Prime Minister's Decision No. 2026 / QD-TTg on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of specialized inspection for import and export goods, from 2017 until now, the Ministry of Finance (the General Department of Customs) has actively cooperated with other ministries and sectors to speed up the reform and renovation in the specialized management and inspections.

With regard to the implementation of the VASSCM, the representative from of Customs IT and Statistics Department said that from August 15th, 2017 up to now, 21 provincial and municipal Customs Departments deployed the system and 172 enterprises connected and exchanged information electronically with the Customs authority through the VASSCM.

The information exchange through the system between Customs and port, warehouse operators has achieved initial results. Procedures, time, and costs have been cut; port and warehouse operators have met the conditions for management requirements under the Customs Law 2014. The Customs promptly has grasped the time, quantity and location of goods consignments taken in, stored, taken out of ports and warehouses, and consignments in expiry date of customs process through the system to make appropriate handling decisions; and reduced Customs clearance time due to reduction in paperwork, reduced handling and pressure on customs officers.

Another important content informed to enterprises was the reform of human resources and apparatus restructuring. As of early October, 2018, the General Department of Customs issued 36 decisions stipulating the apparatus restructuring of Customs Branches, customs teams and equivalent units under the provincial / municipal Customs Departments and the Customs Verification Department; and reduced 239 teams.

In the supervision of duty performance of Customs officers at all levels, the General Department, Departments and Branches have established regular inspection teams to intensify the administrative discipline and rules, to enhance the responsibility of Customs officers in duty performance and prevent the negativity and harassments. Seriously and severely handling cases of violation and handling the responsibility of leading officials at all levels related to the occurrence of negativity or violations in the units or field under their management.

In the framework of the conference, with the desire to further strengthen the participation of enterprises in the operation, the participants discussed on the topic of transparency and professionalism of the customs clearance environment; improvement of the quality and conditions of customs services and the roles and responsibilities of business associations and regular partners.

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Following the conference in Da Nang, the General Department of Customs shall continue to hold a conference to strengthen Customs-business partnerships in customs modernization in 2018 in Ho Chi Minh City (November 9th, 2018) and Ha Noi (November 15th, 2018).