Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung spoke of the need to push reformduring a working session with the General Department of Customs andrelevant agencies in Hanoi on March 25.

Customsformalities should be more convenient and rapid, making it easier forboth exporters and importers as Vietnam summons its strength to achievethe 2010-2015 socio-economic goals. Suggested strategies includedremoving red tape and improving the business climate and economiccompetitiveness, he said.

According to the WorldBank, firms spent an average of 21 days in 2012 and 2013 to fulfilprocedural requirements for their trans-border imports and exports, with5.88 days spent on customs procedures and 15.12 days were taken up byother domestic agencies and the process of handling goods.

The leader noted that an uncompetitive economy is unable to attractinvestment inflows, and that one of the key contributing factors to thelack of competitiveness is customs bureaucracy.

Herecognised initial progress in customs overhaul but expressed his beliefthat the sector could be doing far more, mandating a sense ofresponsibility and determination from ministries and agencies involved,he said.

Looking forward, he asked ministers tothoroughly review existing laws and international practices to determineappropriate solutions.

To bring about true reform,he requested the Vietnam Fatherland Front, media and business communitykeep a watchful eye on the process.

In his report,Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung said the 2014 Customs Law has laid asolid foundation to modernise customs management and simplifyprocedures.

Customs departments nationwide haveused the Vietnam Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System and theVietnam Customs Information System (VNACCS/VCIS) since November 2014.

The ASEAN and national one-stop shop customsmechanisms have been piloted as scheduled, with the latter alreadyconnecting the administrative procedures of the Ministry of Industry andTrade since last December at 12 international seaports, Dung said.

In Saigon Zone 1 port, the customs clearance time for imports has beenslashed 18 percent to over 34 hours compared to 2013. Time required forexports is under 7 hours, down 58 percent.

DeputyPrime Minister Vu Van Ninh suggested several ideas, including embracingtechnological advances, boosting linkages among ministries, building acommon database to keep track of imports and exports and holding regulardialogues with businesses.

Deputy Prime MinisterVu Duc Dam proposed determining set time limits within the 21 days foreach ministry responsible to process trans-border customs clearance.-VNA