Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The General Department of Customs in 2024 willcontinue to reform customs policies and procedures, as well as build and deploydigital customs.

That will contribute to creating favourable conditions for import-exportbusinesses, supporting trade promotion and helping the country's economyachieve its growth target.

This year, the General Department of Customs is assigned by the NationalAssembly a state budget revenue of 375 trillion VND, including 204 trillion VNDfrom import and export activities. However, the state budget revenue fromimport and export activities is forecast to continue to face many factorsaffecting the world's economy and society.

To ensure the legal basis for implementing customs reform and modernisation inthe coming time, the customs sector has been focusing on completing submissionof documents on legal implementation of customs administrative procedures onelectronic and digital platforms to the Government and the Ministry of Financefor promulgation.

Specifically, the Ministry of Finance issued Circular 33/2023/TT-BTC dated May31, 2023 on determining the origin of export and import goods.

At the same time, the customs sector continues to accelerate completion ofdraft decrees that play a particularly important role in promotingadministrative reform, creating favourable conditions in enterprises'activities of goods import and export, and implementing all customs proceduresand tax management for these goods.

They include a decree regulating the management mechanism, methods, order andprocedures for quality and food safety inspection for imported goods; a decreeon customs management of import and export goods traded via e-commerce; and adecree amending and supplementing Decree 08/2015/ND-CP on implementing theCustoms Law's regulations on customs procedures, inspection and supervision.

At the same time, the customs sector also focuses on building and completingthe digital customs and smart customs project, synchronously andcomprehensively implementing solutions to promote digital transformation incustoms activities, said Nguyen The Viet, deputy director of the division oncustoms supervision and management, General Department of Customs.

This project also aims to manage activities of the customs in the digitalenvironment from the entire process of implementing customs procedures,including before, during and after customs clearance. That ensures seamlessmanagement from beginning stage to the end for exported, imported and transitedgoods; and transport means.

The General Department of Customs also continues to actively propose reforms inmanagement and specialised inspection of import and export goods.

In addition, customs authorities improve the operational efficiency of theNational Single Window and ASEAN Single Window, gradually implementing digitaltransformation of this system to optimise their operation.

Now, all core customs procedures are implemented on the VNACCS/VCIS system atall customs offices nationwide. The General Department of Customs also providesonline public services at levels 3 and 4 for other administrative procedures,the representative of the General Department of Customs said.

Last year, Vietnam's total goods import and export value was estimated to reach683 billion USD, down 6.6% from the previous year. Of which, exports decreasedby 4.4% while imports decreased by 8.9%.

With the existing difficulties in the global and home markets, from thebeginning of 2023, the General Department of Customs synchronously and promptlyimplemented tasks and solutions according to the issued resolutions tofacilitate trade activities, remove difficulties for businesses and implementState budget revenue plan.

Viet said notably, the General Department of Customs issued Decision 123/QD-TCHQon implementing administrative reform, simplifying customs procedures, andfacilitating trading activities in 2023.

Accordingly, the customs sector has reduced by 10% the time required toimplement customs clearance and goods handling. The number of electronicdocuments certifying the origin of goods also increased sharply.

Customs authorities prioritise the implementation of customs clearanceprocedures for agricultural products and perishable goods, and work with localauthorities to actively complete customs clearance at the northern bordergates, he said. Border gates in Lang Son province are currently operatingcustoms clearance from 7 am to 10 pm.

In 2023, import and export activities were conducted at six border gates in LangSon province. The total import-export turnover of Lang Son reached nearly 5billion USD, an increase of 60.9% year on year.

The customs clearance of fruit and agricultural products was carried outsmoothly, with no congestion, contributing to maintaining stability inbilateral trade activities and ensuring the supply chain of goods./.