Sharing the borderline with China, Lang Son province holds favourable conditions for trade development. The province is one of 10 localities selected to pilot e-customs. A reporter of Vietnam Business Forum has a talk with Mr Nguyen Cong Truong, Director of Lang Son Department of Customs, on this matter.
Could you talk about the progress of local e-customs implementation?
On August 12, 2009, the Vietnamese Prime Minister signed the Decision No. 103/2009/QD-TTg on adjustments and supplements to the Decision 149/2005/ QD-TTg dated June 20, 2005 on pilot implementation of e-customs. This decision accelerates the execution of the e-customs trial in Vietnam.
The Lang Son Department of Customs has basically prepared resources, infrastructure and equipment for the completion of the plan. Initially, the department picked up three typical border gates of Huu Nghi, Dong Dang and Bac Giang, for the trial.
In fact, the Lang Son Department of Customs has gradually reformed customs clearance formalities. We began the tryout in selected units since the beginning of 2008. Enterprises could declare customs procedures at their offices and send to customs authorities via email. Each company is instructed and granted a code for later declaration. To date, up to 98 percent of customs papers are declared via internet. In 2008, 60 percent of customs papers are electronically declared and the rate is 98 percent in November 2009. In 2008, a total of VND2,000 billion was declared via internet and VND1,500 billion in 2009. These impressive figures are stepping stones for the expansion of e-customs in Lang Son province.
As a latecomer, how has Lang Son Department of Customs prepared for e-customs implementation?
Modernising and reforming customs procedures are being actively implemented by the Lang Son Department of Customs. Following their successes, customs departments in Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong City and other localities have helped us build up implementation plan. We will firstly complete managerial apparatus and personnel. The second priority is infrastructure investment. With these two factors, e-customs implementation is empirically favourable and effective.
As a latecomer, we will avoid shortcomings and mistakes committed by other localities. When we start with e-customs declaration programme, we have meticulously instructed enterprises and received feedbacks from them obtain best implementing results.
We also set up e-customs units at our customs offices. Together in personnel apparatus is to train customs officers to use e-customs software.
The Lang Son Department of Customs has selected 25 typical companies with large import - export revenues and high sense of law to join the first e-customs programme. We have actively carried out and drawn experience from this. If everything proceeds smoothly, we will apply in other units in our system.
Has the department encountered any problems in applying e-customs?
From manual to electronics is a long stride for any customs authorities, especially Lang Son Department of Customs. Thus, we cannot stay out of difficulties. To deal with our existing problems, the Ministry of Finance should issue circulars on “instructing e-customs procedures, examining and supervising customs, import and export tariffs, and import and export tax management” and other documents. The Customs Modernisation Committee under the General Department of Customs (GDC) need to advise GDC leaders to support finance, equipment, infrastructure and IT for units implementing e-customs.
E-customs declaration brings in high benefits for the State and enterprises but end-users - enterprises - are still encountering many problems. To carry out e-customs, they need to invest in IT infrastructure and personnel for e-customs. However, only a few enterprises can satisfy these conditions.
E-customs is proven to increase the activeness, cut costs and shorten time for goods clearance of enterprises. E-customs process consists of four components: declare and receive information; electronize documents; accept/reject customs information; and instruct customs procedures.
The Lang Son Department of Customs is explaining e-customs benefits in many different ways to persuade more participants. We hope enterprises and customs offices will get closer. Contributions of both sides will help improve managerial capacity of customs offices and maximise the effectiveness of e-customs process.
The Lang Son Department of Customs now has seven subordinate border offices and is managing a large number of large cross-border trading enterprises. With its gradual reform and modernisation of customs procedures, the customs sector of Lang Son province has brought in practical benefits for enterprises and highly appreciated by enterprises themselves.
Reported by Luu Hiep
Vietnamese
