Customs use machines to check goods. — Photo baochinhphu.vn

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has asked ministries and localities to promote digital transformation in the customs field, as in the context of global integration and robust e-commerce development, digital transformation is confirmed to play an extremely important role.

In recent times, the Government has issued many guiding documents on digital transformation in the customs field.

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) and the Việt Nam Customs (VNC) have supported people and businesses to improve efficiency and transparency in customs work, import and export management.

But it is expected that the world situation will continue to be complicated.

In Việt Nam, production and trading activities still face many difficulties.

To further enhance digital transformation in the customs field, save costs, and make it more convenient for people and businesses, PM Chính requested the MoF and the VNC to review and upgrade the information technology system towards digitising documents.

The MoF and the VNC are responsible for preparing equipment to serve customs industry modernisation, customs inspection, supervision and control at border gates and seaports.

They must also strengthen cooperation and exchange of customs data information with countries in the region and around the world, especially strategic trade partner countries with large import-export turnover to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese goods to be exported to these countries and vice versa.

Other duties of the MoF and VNC are to regularly organise dialogues, and evaluate the level of satisfaction of people and businesses when carrying out administrative procedures.

They should inspect and handle customs units and officials who violate the law, or cause trouble or harassment for the people.

Ministries and ministerial-level agencies, according to their assigned tasks, review administrative procedures related to licensing of exported and imported goods to propose competent authorities regulations-related amendments and supplements within this year.

The MoF should coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security to implement the PM’s Decision No 06/QĐ-TTg to develop population data application to serve the national digital transformation period 2022-25, with a vision to 2030.

Cross-border import and export procedures will also be digitised, smart border gates will be built to reduce administrative procedures and costs for people and businesses.

The people's committees of border provinces will develop a master plan to modernise management, trade and logistics activities at border gates.

Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, provinces and cities must create a transparent and fair import-export environment, improve national competitiveness, prevent smuggling, trade fraud and illegal goods transportation across borders.

They should report to the PM any issues that are beyond their authority.

All the work will be supervised by the Government Office. — VNS