Thua Thien - Hue Customs: Fine Image in Businesses’ Eyes

 

Leading our reporter crew to visit Phu Bai Industrial Park where Thuy An Customs Branch Bureau is headquartered in a hot day in August, Mr Tran Cong Hung, Deputy Director of Thuy An Customs Branch, said that over 80 per cent of the branch’s revenue is sent to the State Budget. This is not only the face of the customs sector of Thua Thien - Hue province, but also the moral duty of customs officers. In the first eight months of 2016, its payment to the State Budget surged. Import and export value reached over US$730 million in the period, up 22 per cent year on year. Tax revenue grossed VND255 billion (over US$10 million), 125 per cent higher than the plan. This result came from effective administrative reform and business support by the branch. To carry out the scheme on improving business satisfaction assigned by the Thua Thien - Hue Customs Department and respond to the Year of Business launched by Thua Thien - Hue province, Thuy An Customs Branch enhanced public administration reform and facilitated enterprises to receive and handle customs clearance procedures.

 

He added that the telephone lines connected to branch leaders are always available to support businesses. If they confront any problems, we stand ready to advise and support them even after business hours. Ms Hoang Thi Thu Le, Director of Hanesbrands Vietnam - Hue Co., Ltd, said that, as one of leading United States-invested companies here, the company has annual revenue of over US$190 million from apparels exported to the United States and the European Union (EU). They only need to complete declaration forms to receive practical support from customs officers. Even when meeting with problems in specialised check (apparel), Deputy Director Tran Cong Hung directed the company in how to deal with the issues.

 

Phu Bai Spinning Joint Stock Company is another considerable contributor to the State Budget. The company also reported clear changes from the customs agency. Huong, Manager of Export and Import of Phu Bai Spinning Joint Stock Company, said that the clearest change is the operation of VNACCS/VCIS system which has helped the company to reduce a lot of time and expense. Even when the amended Tax on Export - Import Tax came into effect on September 1, 2016, customs officers at Thuy An Customs Branch considerately guided businesses to open and handle declaration papers.

 

Mr Vo Minh, Deputy Director of Thua Thien Hue Customs Department, said he used to travel to Hanoi to attract investors to do business in Hue. To ensure a sustainable revenue source for the State Budget, it is important to attract businesses to invest and develop export and import operations in the locality. Therefore, the customs sector of Thua Thien - Hue province has focused on attracting exporters and importers in the past years. The Customs Department fulfilled revenue plans in 2015 and in early 2016.

However, some sources of income have turned unstable. Tax revenues from some bitumen and mineral projects declined because some investment items were completed. This is the challenge for the customs sector in the coming time.

 

To guarantee the revenue for the State Budget and increase more investment capital, the customs sector of Thua Thien - Hue province has coordinated with relevant bodies to contact potential enterprises and attract investment capital into Phu Bai Industrial Park and Chan May - Lang Co Economic Zone like breweries and sugar mills in Phu Loc. Several companies have proposed customs agencies to guide customs procedures to facilitate export of wood chips, minerals and sand. These will be important income sources in 2017.