Ho Chi Minh City: Enterprises highly appreciate the VASSCM launch

	Hai Phong Customs upgrade automatic customs management system
	Director of Hai Phong Customs Department Nguyen Tien Loc: Breakthrough in customs management and trade facilitation
	Viet Nam Automated System For Seaport Customs Management (VASSCM) officially operated

Goods in and out at Cat Lai Port were automatically cleared. Photo: T.H

Enterprises highly appreciated

Mr. Nguyen Nang Toan, Director of the Logistics Service Center under the Saigon Newport Corporation said that the connection of the Automated System for Seaport Customs Management has helped seaport operators in general and importers and exporters in particular to save time and cost. The Saigon Newport Corporation is always ready and agrees with the Customs agency in the Customs reform and modernization, providing the best service for importers and exporters. On 24th August, VASSCM was deployed at Cat Lai Port and initially brought the desired results.

Ms. Phung Le Trinh, the representative of Tan Son Nhat Cargo Services Co. Ltd (TCS) said that the company agreed with the VASSCM connection in the Customs sector. Currently, the company has prepared and is ready for the connection with the Customs agency’s system. Also, it has prepared guidance for its entire staff for a smooth official deployment.

Besides, at the conference, many representatives of service providers such as UPS, DHL in Vietnam, and warehouse operators, yard operators, seaport operators and site operators in Ho Chi Minh City, agreed with the deployment of the new management method.

However, the enterprises’ representatives also raised opinions such as permitting them to pilot the connection software before the official deployment, as well as proposing technical support in the implementation to solve arising problems, to run parallel with the former system, and introducing an appropriate deployment roadmap for each enterprise.

Mr. Nguyen Nang Toan, Director of the Logistics Service Center under the Saigon Newport Corporation raised opinions at the conference.

Facilitate both the Customs agency and enterprise

Answering questions from enterprises at the conference, the representative of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department said that right from the beginning of the project deployment, the Department established a Steering Committee and Implementation Teams and issued detail plans. During the deployment, the Department committed to always accompany with enterprises to successfully deploy the VASSCM soon.

Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department has acknowledged suggestions on the time limit of VASSCM deployment. The Department will report for guidance from the General Department of Vietnam Customs and give feedback to enterprises. For the proposal to pilot this system, the Department has requested enterprises to send written requests for the support in the pilot deployment.

It is acknowledged that Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department has managed 73 warehouses and sites of 64 seaport operators, warehouse operators, yard operators and site operators under the governing scope of the Customs Law 2014, and the Government’s Decree 68/2016/ND-CP.

At the conference, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department, Dinh Ngoc Thang affirmed that the deployment of the VASSCM contributed to creating a new breakthrough in the Customs management towards modernization and transparency, and helped the Customs increase human resource to focus on fighting against smuggling and trade fraud, streamlining staff in the direction of professional and effective operation.

The deployment of the new management method has permitted Customs declarants to not having to submit paper documents when taking goods via the Customs surveillance area as in previous times, and helps to reduce cost and time for carrying Customs procedures from 1/3 to ½; helped seaport operators, warehouse operators, yard operators and site operators to closely control goods in and out; take the initiative in loading and unloading, and enhance the capacity of goods release, thereby, reducing staff and cost, due to the reduction in paper documents exchanging between the parties.

However, Mr. Thang said that in order to effectively and synchronously operate the VASSCM, and bring practical benefits to all parties as well as perform the rights and responsibilities of the warehouse operators, seaport operators, yard operators and Customs declarants in accordance with the Customs Law and relevant documents, these operators and enterprises need to coordinate well with the Customs agency in this period to accelerate the implementation progress of the system in the entire area managed by the Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department .