Customs officers at work. — Photo baochinhphu.vn

HÀ NỘI — The General Department of Việt Nam Customs recently issued an action plan to implement Resolution 02/NQ-CP of the Government to improve the ranking of the trading across borders index by 10 to 15 spots compared to 2019 in the 'Ease of Doing Business' rankings of the World Bank.

Resolution 02/NQ-CP aims to improve the business environment and national competitiveness by 2021. The department said that to effectively implement the resolution, it will carry out administrative reform.

Customs offices will continue to promote the reform of customs administrative procedures by putting people and businesses at the centre; ensure the efficiency of State management; and create a fair, open, convenient and transparent business environment to support people and businesses.

At the same time, the customs office will reduce and simplify business conditions; remove difficulties for businesses, shorten processes, modernise, and apply information technology in State management; reduce the time for implementing administrative procedures, ensure publicity, transparency and enhance the responsibility of State administrative agencies.

The customs agency has advised the Ministry of Finance to work with ministries and branches to comprehensively reform regulations on specialised management of import and export goods in accordance with international practices.

The department will continue to provide online public services at level 3 and level 4, aiming to apply 100 per cent of practical public services to people and businesses and help them restore production and business and overcome the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The plan also aims to improve the efficiency of the National Single Window (NSW), the ASEAN Single Window; reform specialised inspection for import and export goods and facilitate trade benefits in the period of 2018 - 2020 and conclusions of the Chairman of the National Steering Committee on ASEAN Single Window and NSW.

At a conference of the customs agency, Deputy Minister of Finance Vũ Thị Mai said this year was set to have many opportunities but also many difficulties and challenges.

Therefore, she suggested that the customs agency perform State budget collection and modernisation well.

In addition to striving to collect more than 5 per cent of the estimate assigned by the National Assembly of VNĐ315 trillion, the customs agency must continue to implement administrative procedure reform, modernisation, and facilitate trade and import-export activities to shorten the time and cost of goods clearance. — VNS