More than 100 businesses attend seminar "Finding solutions to reduce import and export costs for businesses"

Mrs. Vu Thi Anh Hong, Editor-in-Chief of Customs News speak at the seminar. Photo: Châu Long

Speaking at the opening of the seminar, Mrs. Vu Thi Anh Hong, Editor-in-Chief of Customs News, said that over the past two years, the Covid-19 pandemic has greatly affected the world economy and society in general and Vietnam in particular. Especially the fourth wave of Covid-19 outbreaks in Vietnam caused many difficulties and challenges for industries and fields to cope with; production and business activities of many enterprises were stagnated, narrowed down, or temporarily suspended, including import and export activities.

Measures for pandemic control and restrictions on movement have had a great impact on businesses with large trade turnover and manufacturing enterprises that depend on imported raw materials and components. However, overcoming the negative effects of the pandemic, Vietnam's export activities in the past year have achieved encouraging results.

In 2021, the country's import-export turnover reach nearly US$700 billion for the first time, an increase of 22.6% compared to 2020. In particular, exports increased 19% and imports rose 26.5%. In the first two months of this year, import-export turnover reached US$109 billion, climbing by 14.2% over the same period last year. In order to contribute to the completion of the socio-economic development goals of 2022, import and export activities need to continue to be promoted to create a driving force for the entire economy.

More than 100 enterprises operating import-export attend the seminar. Photo: Châu Long

Besides the positive results, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has also disrupted production, business, import and export activities of enterprises, when imported raw materials were scarce and prices rose. Besides that, the import-export activities of enterprises also suffered high costs due to the conflict between Russia – Ukraine and the world oil price soaring. According to information from business associations and shipping and airline companies, currently, the cost of transporting goods by sea and air has increased many times compared to the time before the pandemic (since 2019). For example, shipping freight was only about US$1,000-3,000/container at the time before the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak, then it increased to US$10,000/container and now it's US$14,000-US$15,000/40-feet container.

To help businesses overcome difficulties and at the same time recover to be competitive enough to conquer the world market when many new generation FTAs ​​have taken effect, the General Department of Vietnam Customs assigned the Customs News to hold a seminar: "Finding solutions to reduce export costs import for businesses”.

The organizers give flowers to thank the businesses that accompanied the seminar. Photo: Châu Long

“We hope that through this seminar, speakers, associations and businesses will have a lot of ideas to identify the current difficult situation in terms of costs for import and export activities so that they can make recommendations, offer effective solutions to reduce costs for businesses in import and export activities, help businesses to recover soon after the pandemic and strengthen competitiveness in the world market,” Mrs. Vu Thi Anh Hong stated.

At the seminar, Mr. Dao Duy Tam, Deputy Director of the Customs Control and Supervision Department (General Department of Vietnam Customs), also shared solutions to reduce administrative procedures and creative activities that the Customs sector has launched to help businesses maintain and develop import and export activities.

Guest speakers at the discussion panel. Photo: Châu Long

Prominent among them is the solution of providing free customs declarations software for businesses in the field of import and export, saving hundreds of billions of VND for the business community. Along with that is the implementation of the project "Reforming the model of quality inspection and food safety inspection for imported goods".

Mr. Dang Thai Thien, Deputy Head of Customs Control and Supervision Division - Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department, shared information about the project "Trade facilitation: customs procedures in logistics activities and preventing congestion of import and export goods in Cat Lai port” helping businesses to save costs and reduce cargo clearance time.

From the business perspective, Mr. Tran Viet Huy, Director of Customs and Trade Facilitation Department - Vietnam Association of Logistics Service Enterprises, and Mr. Jonathan Hanh Nguyen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IPPG Group, also proposed solutions in order to facilitate and reduce costs for businesses in the current situation.

Moreover, Mr. Jonathan Hanh Nguyen will disclose information related to the specialized airline IPP Air Cargo, which was founded by IPPG and is being considered and submitted to the Government for licensing by the authorities, and the expectations about reducing import and export costs for businesses from the introduction of IPP Air Cargo.