Implementation of the National Single Window: Recognizing the efforts of Customs

	More than 3 million dossiers implemented via National Single Window Mechanism
	100% of airlines have already made e-declarations to National Single Window
	Encourage taxpayers to use tax service through National Single Window

hanks to strong reform of administrative procedures, Customs authorities have better supported import and export activities of enterprises. In the photo: Professional activities at Hon Gai Border Gate Customs Branch - Quang Ninh Customs Department Photo: Quang Hung

Save time and compliance costs

Vice Chairman of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Hoang Quang Phong said that thanks to the strong reform of administrative procedures, the Customs authorities have better supported import and export activities. Including commercial benefits, the application of information technology in administrative procedure reforms isdirectly supporting businesses to save time and compliance costs. In particular, the official construction and operation of the National Single Window (November 2014) is an important effort of the Government of Vietnam, the Ministry of Finance, the General Department of Customs and many other ministries and agencies. It is important to support and create favorable conditions for businesses.

In order to improve the effectiveness of the implementation of the NSW, to implement the guidance of the National Steering Committee on the ASEAN Single Window (ASW), NSW and to facilitate trade, the VCCI in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the General Department of Customs. The report assesses the satisfaction of businesses about administrative procedures through the NSW. This report is ofgreat significance in contributing to the reform of administrative procedures in import and export activities viathe NSW. The report was made through asurvey of 3,100 businesses nationwide, reflecting the honest and objective voice of the business community on the performance of the NSW as well as measuring time and expenses when handling administrative procedures.

According to Mr. Hoang Quang Phong, through the survey, the business community acknowledged the efforts of the General Department of Customs (Ministry of Finance) and relevant ministries and branches in implementation. In particular, businesses appreciate the implementation of administrative procedures through the National Single Window, which helps businesses facilitate procedures for specialized management fields, thereby helping to reduce time and cost compliance during the implementation of administrative procedures.

Agreeing with the above viewpoint, Vice Chairman of Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association Truong Van Cam said that the import-export turnover of the textile and apparel industry is very significant, therefore, textile enterprises expect strong innovations and reforms through the NSW. "Up to now, textile enterprises have approached and used NSW successfully and brought positive effects," Mr. Truong Van Cam said.

Extend the survey of administrative procedures

Besides the achieved results, Mr. Hoang Quang Phong said that many businesses also pointed outbig gaps to further improve the implementation of the NSW. Specifically, the NSW portal needs to integrate the electronic payment portal; associated with improving problem solving functions as well as dealing with issues that businesses care about. On the other hand, the development of the NSW Information Technology system should be based on a centralized system instead of the current distributed system. For ministries and agencies, the resolution of administrative procedures on the NSW should be a priority, contributing to reducing compliance costs for businesses through reviewing procedures,increasing transparency in the resolution andspeeding up the process of transferring conformity assessment services to the private sector.

At the launch of the report ‘Assessment of enterprises' satisfaction and the time of administrative procedure implementation through NSW’ by Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the General Department of Customs (Ministry of Finance) and the United States Agency for International Development in Vietnam held earlier this week, Deputy Director of the General Department of Customs Hoang Viet Cuong said that after the survey results are obtained, the General Department of Customs will continue to coordinate with VCCI to study problems of the business community to advise the Ministry of Finance to propose ministries and branches to have specific solutions.

In particular, as the standing office of the National Steering Committee for ASW, NSW and trade facilitation, the General Department of Customs will work closely with ministries and sectors to propose specific implementation solutions to improve the quality and efficiency of implementing the NSW.

"In the future, the relevant agencies will expand the survey and evaluation for more procedures, not stopping at the high-frequency procedures, many businesses participated as last time so as to havesubstantive reviews and more objective evaluation of the benefits and effectiveness in implementing administrative procedures of NSW ministries and branches," the Deputy General Director said.

The Deputy General Director also shared the idea of building an online evaluation system through the National Single Window Portal instead of manual surveys.

Regarding the connection of administrative procedures into NSW, according to the Prime Minister's Decision 1254 / QD-TTg, in the period of 2016-2020, ministries and branches need to connect 263 procedures into the NSW, but currently 198 procedures have been implemented, so the task is still difficult. In order to accomplish the goals assigned by the Prime Minister, Deputy General Director Hoang Viet Cuong proposes the ministries and branches to have specific implementation plans.

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“In order to meet business satisfaction, ministries and agencies should not only focus on bringing the connection procedure to the NSW, but also simplify the procedures being implemented before implementing the NSW. The General Department of Customs will continue to perform the role of a Standing Agency to coordinate and accompany ministries and branches to further improve the effectiveness of the implementation of the NSW,” Deputy General Director Hoang Viet Cuong said.