Ready for deployment of the automated system for Customs management in the largest seaport in the country

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Cat Lai Port has nearly applied the automated system for seaport Customs management and supervision. Photo: T.H

Piloting at the last seaport

Ho Chi Minh City Customs is the first unit in the South which is selected by the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) to pilot the automated system for seaport Customs management and supervision for import and export goods, goods in transit at seaports and international civil aviation ports in accordance with Plan 4098/KH-TCHQ dated 21st June 2017 of the GDVC and Decision 2722/QĐ-BTC 29th December 2017 of the Ministry of Finance. Ho Chi Minh Customs Department has deployed this system at 4 Customs Branches (including Lotus Port under Lotus Marine Joint Stock Company, SP-ITC under the International Transportation and Trading Joint Stock Company (ITC), Phuoc Long IDC Port under Phuoc Long Port Co Ltd., and Tan Cang-Hiep Phuoc Port under the Saigon Newport Corporation).

According to the pilot plan for seaports, only Tan Cang-Cat Lai Port is the last seaport to pilot. Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department said that with the huge volume of imports and exports through Cat Lai Port, accounting for 92% market share in Ho Chi Minh City, so that the preparation for the deployment of the automated system for seaport Customs management at Cat Lai Port managed by the Saigon Newport Corporation is carefully implemented, avoiding affecting the Custom clearance of enterprises.

According to Director of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department Dinh Ngoc Thang, in order to apply the automated system for seaport Customs management and supervision at Cat Lai Port, recently, Ho Chi Minh Customs Department has actively worked and discussed with over 10 local Customs units that receive goods transferred from Customs branch to completely handle the backlog of declarations in the system and discuss on solutions to deploy the system. “Currently, the Customs authority and enterprises are implementing new provisions in Decree 59 and Circular 39 related to import and export activities, which have taken effect. Therefore, the system’s deployment at Cat Lai Port must be synchronously implemented in accordance with new provisions”- Mr. Thang said.

Currently, Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department, the preparation on technique and personnel is quite effective; the Department has completed steps to propose the leader of the GDCV to deploy the system in the earliest time, it is expected to deploy in June 2018.

Overcoming shortcomings

Besides the preparation, Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department has mentioned shortcomings after the pilot period at 4 seaports and proposed the GDVC to remove these shortcomings to more effectively deploy at seaports that have already been deployed, and in Cat Lai Port in the coming time. In which, most of shortcomings are on technical errors in handling independent transport declarations for less than container load and full container load, and bill of lading of export goods with many Customs declarations. At the same time, in order to remove some shortcomings, Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department has proposed the GDVC to upgrade the system’s software to facilitate the Customs authority and enterprises. In addition, because enterprises are not acquainted with the new system or incorrectly declare the unique consignment reference, thereby the Customs authority has to handle by manual method that prolongs time and causes backlog. Therefore, enterprises have to declare masterfully and grasp the declaration of the new unique consignment reference to transfer data to the Customs system.

In order to limit shortcomings in the implementation, Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department has proposed the GDVC to assign Customs officers who have experience in Customs operation and software to coordinate with Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department and the Saigon Newport Corporation to review and unify the operational progress in the software and data exchanging between the parties; Identify cases that need to be piloted in the system before the official implementation; Evaluate results and unify the deployment plan at Cat Lai Port.

The seaport operators have carefully prepared to deploy the system. Accordingly, the Saigon Newport Corporation has effectively applied IT towards automation of each part to participate in the modern management system. According to Mr. Ngo Minh Thuan, Deputy General Director of Sai Gon New Port Corporation, the Corporation has coordinated with the Customs authority to deploy many programs connecting IT in the supervision such as TopoVN, implementing Article 41 of the Customs Law. Especially, the Sai Gon New Port Corporation has effectively implemented “the scheme on modernization of delivery procedures at seaport”. Currently, 100% of customers having containers unloading at Cat Lai Port and 80% of customers receiving containers of imported goods and delivering empty containers are implemented procedures and online payment via e-Port software; implementing e-Delivery Order for customers of Maersk Line; developing e-Port mobile application to facilitate customers which will be a favorable premise for the deployment of the system in accordance with Decision 2722 / QD-BTC of the Ministry of Finance.