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Hai Phong Customs officer inspects imported goods. Photo: Nguyen Le

Continuously record positive growth

The department processed some 193,000 declarations, up more than 21% year-on-year in the seven months of 2021, said Hai Phong Customs.

The customs official said in July, total trade by port rose by 18% year-on-year to nearly US$9 billion. Of which, the city shipped goods overseas worth about US$4.5 billion while it spent some US$4.45 billion on imports, up 22% and 14.2%.

Imports of autos and auto parts rocketed by 282% and 522% to some US$120 million and US$67 million, respectively.

Motorcycle spare parts, petroleum products and cosmetics also experienced significant increases in imports.

The trade by northern Customs Department of Hai Phong between January and July 2021 rose 30.6% to US$58 billion year-on-year. Of which, exports grew by 32% to US$27.5 billion and imports grew by over 29 to over US$ 30 billion.

Experience in realising "dual goals"

Trade growth at Hai Phong Customs is a remarkable result, proving the efforts and determination of the unit in implementing disease prevention and control measures associated with ensuring goods clearance.

Hai Phong Customs Department is in charge of four regions - Hai Phong and the neighbouring provinces of Hai Duong, Hung Yen and Thai Binh which have recorded complex Covid-19 pandemic and Hai Phong city government has also taken extremely strict measures to control the pandemic. Thus, it had certain impacts the flow of import and export goods.

Therefore, Hai Phong Customs has identified fast customs clearance for the business community as a key task.

Deputy Director of Hai Phong Customs Department Nguyen Kien Giang said experiencing previous waves of the pandemic, Hai Duong, Hung Yen and Thai Binh faced complex developments of the pandemic, the three customs branches located there had to take anti-pandemic measures according to regulations in social distancing areas. However, leaders of Hai Phong Customs Department grasped the situation and promptly guided the branches.

First, the branches must seriously comply with guidelines on pandemic prevention and control of the central Government and local governments.

Second, the department provides anti-pandemic equipment and facilities to aid customs officers when using the “three-on-the-spot” model (working, eating and sleeping at the workplace)

Third, giving political and ideological education to cadres and civil servants, because they have to work away from home for a long time amid the pandemic and face many difficulties. In addition to ensuring accommodation and encouragement of leaders is necessary to create trust for customs officers.

For the business community, those who visit the customs office must abide by regulations on pandemic control and prevention. The customs agency arranges a separate area and customs officer equipped with anti-pandemic equipment to receive and return dossiers to minimise face-to-face contact between customs and business while ensuring customs process.

Furthermore, Hai Phong Customs makes a plan that if coronavirus carriers or direct contacts of patients must be isolated in a branch, the information and technology unit will send customs declarations to another branch to ensure customs clearance.

For example, when the pandemic hit Chi Linh, Hai Duong in early 2021, the information and technology unit will send customs declarations to the Hung Yen customs branch, said Nguyen Kien Giang

In addition, for export processing and production firms required to submit their final statement on March, Hai Phong customs department proposed the General Department of Customs allow these firms to submit statements late without fines,

With the initiative and such solutions, despite complex developments of pandemic, Hai Phong Customs Department has helped firms reduce difficulties and maintain goods supply chains and ensure business and production activities, increasing trade turnover and State revenue of the department.