Việt Nam and New Zealand signed an agreement to use electronic certification in the clearance of agricultural products in Hà Nội yesterday. — Photo thoibaotaichinhvietnam.vn

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam and New Zealand signed an agreement to use electronic certification in the clearance of agricultural products in Hà Nội yesterday.

Under the agreement, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the Ministry of Finance (MoF) of Việt Nam and New Zealand's basic ministries and industries will facilitate the clearance of agro-forestry and fishery products through the use of electronic certification (e-Cert), which is an online method of exchanging consensus information among government agencies.

Deputy Minister of MARD Lê Quốc Doanh said: “As the global trade supply chain was increasingly complicated under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as growing technology, it is important to establish a fast, secure and reliable information exchange system through online solutions.”

He added more countries were replacing their paper system with the online solutions as the direct exchange of electronic certification data simplifies import-export processes for agro-forestry, fishery and food products, as well as speeds up customs clearance, reduces costs, increases reliability and transparency.

At the same time, the eCert could lower the possibility of fraud in trading, he said, adding: “The establishment of e-Cert system between the two will create more favourable conditions for import-export businesses and customs officers.” 

Doanh said: “eCert with New Zealand is an important step to help Việt Nam integrate more into the global trading system and create a favourable roadmap for Viet Nam to access other potential markets.”

Doanh said the two countries would continue to do other things to complete the agreement and put the certification into practice.

Deputy Minister of MoF Vũ Thị Mai said her ministry considered this agreement to be a breakthrough initiative as it has contributed to facilitating trade between the two countries, promoting growth and ensuring effective enforcement of laws and protecting the community through bringing high-quality products to consumers.

The agreement would help expand the administrative reform and the use of more electronic documents in Việt Nam as well as simplify and harmonise administrative procedures in bilateral trade in order to further facilitate goods exchange between the two countries. 

At the same time, New Zealand Ambassador to Việt Nam, Wendy Matthews, said the agreement would help trade between the two countries become faster, safer and cheaper, adding: “New Zealand has always been the leading country in the world in the field of electronic certification. It has successfully established an electronic certification system with many trading partners, many of which are ASEAN ones.”

She added the security exchange mechanism of eCert would help avoid risks of losing data, counterfeiting and wrongdoings.

New Zealand and Việt Nam celebrated the 45th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations this year. By the end of 2018, New Zealand had 28 valid projects with a total registered capital of approximately US$101.94 million, ranking 41 out of 20 countries and territories investing in Việt Nam, while Việt Nam has six joint venture projects invested in New Zealand with a total registered capital of $25.62 million in the fields of processing and manufacturing industries; hotel and dining and agriculture production industry. — VNS