Tịnh Biên Border Gate in An Giang Province with Cambodia. Photo bienphong.com.vn

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Industry and Trade has recommended enterprises to only transport goods to Cambodian border gates after localities of the two sides have medical quarantine in place during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The recommendation was issued after the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announced on March 18 the suspension of activities at the country’s border gates with Việt Nam following developments of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ministry said Vietnamese citizens’ entry into Cambodia and Cambodian citizens’ entry into Việt Nam by road, water or air are suspended from 11:59pm on March 20. This measure is designed to prevent any inconvenience caused by quarantine requirements for citizens of both countries, according to the Cambodian ministry. 

A representative of Việt Nam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) told the Vietnam News Agency that besides that announcement, Cambodia has also required relevant State agencies and local authorities of the two countries to create favourable conditions for cross border trade activities.

That will help the suspension of entry and exit for citizens of the two countries to not affect import and export of goods at border gates, the representative said.

However, there will be goods stuck at border gates because drivers of trucks transporting export goods to Cambodia could not be allowed to enter Cambodia, according to the MoIT.

Therefore, local businesses should follow this situation and discuss with Cambodian partners to regulate delivery and receipt of goods and only transport goods to border gates when the two sides unify medical quarantine process for vehicles and drivers transporting goods, avoiding goods getting stuck at border gates.

To remove difficulties and avoid impacts on import and export activities between Việt Nam and Cambodia, the MoIT will soon send a request to Cambodia to consider lifting the ban on Vietnamese citizens’ entry to Cambodia.

Besides that, the ministry will also discuss with Cambodian counterparts about the process of entry and exit for people and goods to ensure disease prevention and create favourable conditions for transporting import and export goods at border gates.

At the same time, the ministry has suggested the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control to direct the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Transport to develop a medical quarantine process for vehicles and drivers at all border gates on road and railway, and in seaports and airports nationwide, including border gates with Cambodia.

The ministry will continue to update customs clearance activities at border gates on its website and cooperate closely with the relevant authorities to solve difficulties in goods import and export activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. — VNS