Implementation of the ASEAN Single Window (ASW), National Single Window (NSW): Need greater motivation

554,505 records processed

According to the General Department of Customs, as an effort of the NSW Steering Committee on ASW, NSW and trade facilitation, plus the entry of ministries, sectors, for the implementation of NSW in 2017 there were certain changes. By December 15th 2017, there were 11 ministries that had implemented 47 procedures in NSW, an increase of 8 procedures compared to 2016. The total number of records processed since the launch was 790,708 records of 19,977 enterprises. Particularly in 2017 (as of December 15), there were 554,505 records processed, up 272% over the same period in 2016.

An officer from the ASW and NSW Management Division (Department of Customs and Statistics, General Department of Customs) analyzed that the number of connection procedures in 2017 was not much, but the number of applications increased sharply because before 2017, ministries and sectors focused on the connection of procedures that had many applications and businesses.

In addition, the Prime Minister promulgated Directive 27/CT-TTg on speeding up the progress, improving the efficiency of NSW, ASW and trade facilitation of the ministries and sectors. These are the ministries and sectors that actively review and perfect the legal basis and procedures; building, deploying and connecting information technology systems; promoting training, propaganda and support for people and enterprises; closely coordinate with the Standing Authority to propose budget estimates for submission to competent authorities for approval, ensuring resources for NSW and ASW implementation in 2018.

According to the Standing Office (General Department of Customs), in 2017 a number of ministries and branches have made great efforts and achieved positive results; such as the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the State Bank of Vietnam.

Not even

With the results of dossier processing, the number of NSW participating enterprises have achieved remarkable results as above, but objectively, the implementation of NSW is still uneven. The number of records only concentrate on some agencies, such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Ministry of Transport. Meanwhile, many ministries and branches have issued the implementation plan, but the results are modest.

For example, the Ministry of Health, following the Announcement No. 330/TB-VPCP (dated 1st August, 2017) of the Office of the Government, conveyed the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue - Head of the Steering Committee. A few days later, the Ministry of Health issued the Decision 3972/QD-BYT on the plan to implement NSW, with an ambitious target. That is, period 2017-2018 will be officially expanded nationwide to five connected procedures, adding 70 new procedures to connect NSW. Among them, the pharmaceuticals and cosmetics sector has the highest number of 32 administrative procedures; followed by medical equipment (19 procedures); preventive medicine (14 procedures); food safety (5 procedures). In the period 2019-2020, the Ministry of Health will complete all administrative procedures in the field of state management of the Ministry for export and transit goods, temporary import for re-export via NSW through the online service Level 4 the collection of fees and charges is done electronically.

But according to the reporter's note, although the year 2017 has come to an end, the Ministry of Health has not brought any new procedures connecting NSW. Recently, the Ministry of Health has proposed the Prime Minister to delay the connection of NSW with procedures relating to medical equipment types B, C, D etc.

In our view, even a number of ministries and departments with many records, businesses conducted through NSW are also primarily focused on the previously connected procedures. Some ministries and branches have less number of connection procedures and fewer applications, such as Ministry of Information and Communications, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, VCCI.

One of the reasons that ministries and branches have not been able to make many connection procedures was due to an uneven information infrastructure. The application of information technology and access to administrative procedures through small and medium enterprises in NSW is still weak, and not fully guided.

To speed up the implementation of NSW, the General Department of Customs is actively coordinating with ministries and sectors to add 25 procedures in the first days of 2018 to increase the number of procedures in NSW to 64 (64 % compared to 2016).

Well performing the coordinating role

In order to achieve results in 2017, the Standing Committee's efforts in coordinating, advising and assisting the National Steering Committee should be acknowledged. Over the past year, the Ministry of Finance (the General Department of Customs) has made great efforts to coordinate, monitor and urge ministries and agencies to issue an action plan for 2016-2020. Ministries and branches have issued the relevant tasks under the Decision No. 2185 / QD-TTg, Directive No 27 / CT-TTg, the instructions of the National Committee.

At the same time, the Standing Committee is actively working on drafting the Decrees on the implementation of NSW, ASW and specialized audits; Submitting the Prime Minister to sign Decision No. 43/2017/QD-TTg on the responsibility to carry out the exit, entry and transit procedures through NSW.

Collaborating with other ministries, sectors: Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry and Trade, Science and Technology, Transportation, Natural Resources and Environment, State Bank, VCCI etc., to unify the professional process, build the system to expand the implementation of 25 new procedures in 2017 and early 2018.

In November 2017, the General Department of Customs hosted the launch of NSW at airports with the participation of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Piloting and preparing to expand the management and oversight of import and export goods through NSW, by NSW and ASW civil servants.

One of the important tasks is to organize training, communication and training for the business community. Particularly, the General Department of Customs organized 6 training courses for more than 2,000 enterprises, and issued the propaganda plan and handbook (in Vietnamese and English) on NSW and ASW.

According to representatives of the Department of Customs Information and Statistics, besides actively organizing training, last year the General Department of Customs also cooperated with VCCI to organize 4 training courses for more than 600 enterprises.