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Deputy Director General Mai Xuan Thanh chairs the teleconference to clear backlog clear backlog of goods at Cat Lai Port. Photo: N.L.

Close coordinating and quick handling

At the online meeting, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) Mai Xuan Thanh asked HCM City Customs Department to urgently offer solutions to resolve this issue.

HCM City Customs Department worked with relevant customs units and Sai Gon Newport Corporation on this matter.

The department’s branches have set up working teams led by the branches’ heads. The department has established focal points to support businesses in goods transportation, a representative of HCM City Customs Department said.

To assist importers and exporters, Sai Gon Newport Corporation will report the volume of goods transported every day to the branches, and then assign officers to carry out procedures.

Saigon Newport Corporation has imposed requirements for customers, the representative of the corporation said.

The volume of goods stuck for more than 90 days at Cat Lai port is huge. The GDVC’s approval of transportation of these goods that have gone through procedures from Cat Lai Port to Tan Cang Hiep Phuoc Port has facilitated firms.

However, if the volume of goods transported to Tan Cang Hiep Phuoc is full, the corporation proposed Customs to allow it to move the goods to another its ports.

Representatives of HCM City, Binh Duong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and Dong Nai suggested coordination and support methods to quickly resolve goods congestion at Cat Lai port.

Addressing the meeting, Deputy Director General Mai Xuan Thanh asked the units to work to reduce the volume of congested goods, so goods containers can be processed procedures in and out Cat Lai Port.

The Deputy Director General asked the HCM City Customs department to set up a working team and connect with the GDVC’s focal point as the leader of Customs Supervision and Control Department.

He asked other customs departments and Saigon Newport Corporation to provide information the GDVC for performance.

Ensuring customs supervision

Deputy Director General also asked Saigon Newport Corporation to send a plan for goods transportation to HCM City Customs before 15:00 the previous day and to the customs where goods are transported, and the department must reply before 17:00.

The corporation was required to plan to transport containers and ensure the goods status, transportation route and time. These containers must have GPS.

On August 2, the GDVC issued an urgent dispatch to give temporary instructions for customs procedures during Covid-19.

The transportation of imported goods stored at Cat Lai port to other seaports in HCM City and inland ports/inland container depots (ICD) must comply with conditions.

Regarding goods eligible for being transported from Cat Lai port to other seaports and inland ports/ICD, goods not on the list of imported goods that must go through customs procedures at the import border gate in Decision 23/2019 of the Prime Minister dated June 27, 2019; full container goods (bulk goods not allowed); imported goods that have not yet been declared; goods that do not show suspicious or infringing signs and are being monitored and inspected by authorities; the whole shipment that has the same bill of lading and same storage

Goods transported to seaports, inland ports/ICDs (referred to as locations) for storage, specifically:

Imported goods of firms in Dong Nai province will be transported to Tan Cang Long Binh ICD or Tan Cang Nhon Trach ICD.

Imported goods of firms in Binh Duong province will be transported to Tan Cang Song Than ICD.

Imported goods of firms in western provinces will be transported to Tan Cang Hiep Phuoc port.

The customs branch managing general storage locations will make weekly reports the Saigon port zone I Customs Branch on goods in, out and stored.

HCM City Customs Department will assume prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the local Customs Departments and other units to manage each shipment leaving Cat Lai port to delivering importers.

The Saigon Newport Corporation and the firms managing the locations where the goods are transported to are responsible for managing, monitoring and reporting on goods in, out or stored at storage locations for the customs branch in charge and are liable for contraband goods and non-customs goods.

After the goods are transported to storage locations, the Saigon Newport Corporation is responsible for notifying storage locations to shipping lines, shipping agents and goods owners.

The GDVC said the guidelines are effective from the issuing date of this dispatch (August 2) to the time after 15 days from the date the People's Committee of HCM City issues a notice to suspend the implementation of Directive 16 dated March 31, 2020 of the Prime Minister.