Last year, Customs made significant changes in administrative procedures, creating favourable conditions for import-export businesses as per the Government’s resolution. Deputy Head of Việt Nam Customs Vũ Ngọc Anh talks with Hải Quan (Customs) Newspaper about measures to enhance that work this year.

Could you brief us on the progress of administrative procedure reforms last year?

To realise the Government’s resolution on administrative procedure reform, business environment improvement and national competitiveness enhancement, the customs implemented 11 tasks and 29 measures aiming at simplifying procedures, creating favourable conditions for import-export businesses and reducing the time of goods clearance at the border gates.

Việt Nam Customs drew out and submitted to the Government seven legal documents and a revised decree on implementing the Law on Customs.

We also submitted to the Finance Ministry a draft circular on customs procedures, customs’ monitoring process and import-export taxes.

The Customs has been setting up the national and ASEAN one-door mechanisms.

In October, an automatic customs management system was officially put into operation in Nội Bài International Airport. The system helped cut costs and save time for businesses doing customs procedures.

In December, the same systems were used in some sea ports. And as planned, all sea ports will have one system by June this year.

The Customs in co-operation with the Industry and Commerce Ministry, and Information and Communication Ministry have prepared infrastructure for officially carrying out the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) one-door mechanism.

At present, the Customs has signed contracts with 36 commercial banks for e-tax collection which helped reduce time of tax collecting to 15 minutes from two days.

This year, the reform of administrative procedure would be further promoted.

What should Customs do to realise the main targets of reforming administrative procedures?

The main points of administrative procedure reform were to create favourable conditions for import-export businesses and tightly control import-export goods.

The Customs has always reviewed legal documents and import-export tax regulations.

Notably, the administrative procedure reform must ensure the requirements of State management.

The Customs has gradually applied modern methods of custom management including risk management, conformity management, after-clearance checking and barcode checking.

In the coming time, the Customs will enhance inspection and anti-smuggling activities so as to ensure a fair business environment for import-export enterprises.

What measures will the Customs implement to enhance the reform of administrative procedures this year?

Reform of administrative procedures has still had shortcomings. Adjusting customs regulations happened at a slow space. Goods checking was not simplified enough which caused time and money waste for businesses. Dissemination of customs law and regulations to businesses was not effective.

To overcome the shortcomings as well as satisfy the business community, this year, the Customs will focus on main measures such as further promoting administrative procedure reform by fulfilling customs legal documents and law; supporting businesses to access the administrative procedure reform; monitoring customs law implementation by customs officers; and further application of advanced technology in the customs procedure process.

Besides, the Customs continues to streamline its apparatus and heighten customs officers’ qualifications to ensure effective operation. – VNS