Ha Tinh Customs and enterprises promote seaport economy

Goods are loaded and unloaded at Son Duong port (Vung Ang economic zone). Photo: H. Nụ

The volume of goods through seaport accounts for 80%

In the first six months of the year, Ha Tinh province continued to effectively carry out promotion activities, inviting domestic and international businesses to research and invest in the area, accelerating key projects and contributing to socio-economic recovery and development.

Total investment capital implemented in Ha Tinh in the first six months of 2022 was estimated at VND15,243 billion, increasing by 32.61% over the same period last year. In addition, investment capital in the foreign direct investment enterprise sector was estimated at VND2,713 billion, rising by 6.1 times over the same period last year. In particular, the battery production project invested by VinES energy solution company was estimated at VND2,407 billion and Vung Ang thermal power plant 2 projects were estimated at VND2,305 billion. Those two projects are the main "catalysts" helping Ha Tinh province's investment capital for social implementation in the first six months of the year increase by 32.61% over the same period last year.

According to the statistics, Vung Ang seaport is currently responsible for nearly 80% of the total volume of goods transported, imported and exported in the whole province, which is mainly iron and steel products, wood chips, pulp, and iron ore. In order to facilitate the operation of Vung Ang port to become one of the spearheads of the service economy, Ha Tinh Customs Department has constantly improved its customs management capacity, connecting shipping lines with import and export enterprises.

In the first two months of 2022, to "make the first purchase" for an efficient production year, Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. imported a large amount of iron ore, coal, scrap and exported diversified products like steel wire, rolled steel, and steel plate. The statistics showed that, in the first two months of the year, Formosa Ha Tinh contributed nearly US$472 million to Ha Tinh's total import and export turnover (which accounts for more than 70% of the import turnover) and paid over VND1,800 billion to the state budget, accounting for 97% of the total revenue collection of the Vung Ang Port Customs Branch.

According to the report of Formosa Ha Tinh, in the first quarter of 2022, the total steel consumption volume of the enterprise reached 1,275 million tons with the main product being hot rolled coil, wire steel, square bar, etc. Notably, Son Duong port welcomed 175 ships and loaded and unloaded more than 4.3 million tons of goods, in which, were concentrated on commodities such as coal, iron ore, and steel products.

According to the assessment of Vung Ang Port Customs Branch, besides the exciting import and export activities of the "leading" enterprise Formosa, enterprises exporting wood chips, pulp, iron ore ... also continuously welcomed large ships entering Vung Ang port "eat goods" in the first months of the year. A representative of the HANVIHA Forest and Production Co., Ltd shared, the Chinese woodchip market was currently thriving, so the company's products were sold as much as they can be. Since the beginning of the year, the company has exported 14,000 tons of wood chips. In 2022, the company expected to export more than 100,000 tons of wood chips.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Cao Duc Thang, Manager of Vung Ang Port Customs Branch said that since the beginning of the year, the unit has received and carried out clearance procedures for more than 100 businesses through the Vung Ang - Son Duong port. In order to facilitate and support businesses, since the start of the year, the unit has set up a research group to study tax policies to support businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in order to guide businesses to approach policies. By providing maximum support, in the first months of the year, the import and export activities through Vung Ang - Son Duong port cluster are guaranteed smooth operation.

Actively connecting parties

Mr. Dinh Van Hoa, Deputy Director of Ha Tinh Customs Department, talked with reporters that the unit paid special attention to newly established enterprises, and enterprise opening declarations for the first time in order to accompany, guide and support, especially businesses investing and operating in Vung Ang economic zone.

Typically, the unit has guided procedures, appraised and announced the list of tax exemptions for the project of Vung Ang 2 Thermal Power Company Limited; participated in the appraisal of investment projects on the production and trade of Lithium battery technology in Vung Ang economic zone; and appraised and announced the list of import tax exemption equipment for the investment project of Flywood Thanh Thanh Dat factory.

In addition, the unit has regularly renovated the work of supporting and removing difficulties for businesses through many information channels; strengthened dialogue and training for businesses in the area about new policies; deployed free customs declaration software to each import-export enterprise in the area; and developed and implemented the implementation plan of the project to promote the application of information technology and digital transformation following the roadmap of the Customs sector and Ha Tinh province.

Along with connecting shipping lines with related parties, in order to facilitate cargo clearance over the past three years, Ha Tinh Customs Department has focused on the implementation of the VNACCS/VCIS for 100% of import and export declarations; 100% of declarations make electronic tax payment 24/7.

Ha Tinh Customs also focused on deploying an automated customs supervision system to monitor goods imported and exported through seaports and warehouses (VASSCM) at Vung Ang port and Son Duong port. Thanks to early deployment, VASSCM has ensured the coherence between the professional stages in freight supervision and the activities of enterprises and shipping lines. The documents and procedures for bringing goods out of warehouses and ports are simpler, thereby significantly reducing travel time and costs for businesses.

Ha Tinh Customs has also actively cooperated with departments, agencies and management agencies to improve the efficiency of coordination in handling procedures for vessels, goods on entry and exit, in transit and transshipment and cooperated in the fight against smuggling and trade fraud and supporting businesses.