Hanoi (VNA) –Stronger connectivity between customs agencies and the business community hashelped foster mutual understanding, Vice Director General of the GeneralDepartment of Vietnam Customs Mai Xuan Thanh stated at a seminar in Hanoi onJune 21.

Thanh said that overthe past years, custom agencies at all levels have held many dialogues with businesses,which have become effective tools to deal with disputes among parties.

Consultations betweencustoms and businesses have also been organised with the participation ofspecific groups of enterprises, he said.

Along with promotingpartnership with the business community, over the past year, the VietnamCustoms has paid due attention to setting up collaboration with businessassociations.

So far, customsagencies have signed agreement deals with 232 enterprises on building regularpartnership, along with 1,701 commitments with enterprises in supporting andsupervising law enforcement, and 52 cooperation deals with businessassociations.

Nguyen Hoai Nam, VicePresident of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Producers and Exporters, saidthat businesses considered customs agencies as their partners.

“We are often askedfor opinions on new documents before they are issued,” stated Nam.

Thanh showed his hopethat businesses will continue actively cooperating with customs agencies andmake contributions to the agencies’ operations.

He asked for opinionsfrom enterprises on solutions to improve the custom sector’s performance.

Business associationsshould also promote communications with the business community to give themclearer understanding on the operation, role, responsibilities and efforts of thecustom sector in reforming and modernising, thus benefiting the businesscommunity and strengthening understanding between the two sides.-VNA