Promoting the imports and exports at the border gates

– The complicated COVID-19 pandemic especially from the beginning of August 2021 have been affecting the import and export activities of goods through border gates in the province. With the primary role in managing import and export activities, the Provincial Customs Department has proactively implemented different measures to promote the cross-border trade activities.

Over the last 2 weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic has immensely affected the goods customs clearance through Tan Thanh border gate. Specifically, the Chinese authorities changed the process of delivery and receipt of goods through the border gate and made the procedures time-consuming resulting in the low flow of customs clearance.

Ms. Dao Thu Lan, Director of Tan Thanh Border Gate Customs Branch said: At this time, some road border gates in the northern provinces cannot carry out customs clearance procedures for goods, the number of vehicles carrying exported fruits is increasing significantly at Tan Thanh Border Gate. However, China has strengthened the quarantine for imported goods, especially dragon fruits leading to the low customs clearance capacity. In order to promote customs clearance and minimize damages for businesses, we have actively implemented measures.

Customs officers at Tan Thanh border gate assist businesses with administrative procedures

Accordingly, we have set up a specialized customs team to support businesses. This team is responsible for monitoring and assisting activities of import-export enterprises at the border gate, for example, customs clearance procedures. “At this time, Tan Thanh Customs Branch has actively created a “green” channel for dragon fruits in particular as well as for fresh fruits in general. Currently, inspection is conducted via electronic declaration system and businesses need only a certificate from phytosanitary agencies to finish customs clearance procedures. The amount of time for customs clearance of a cargo truck through Tan Thanh Border Gate is currently less than 2 minutes…” – Director of Tan Thanh Border Gate Customs Branch added.

At Huu Nghi International Border Gate, at this time, the number of vehicles is very large (in August 2021, it is estimated there were 806 enterprises exporting goods through the border gate) with a variety of products. Therefore, leaders of Huu Nghi International Border Gate Customs Branch have directed professional teams to review and prioritize procedures for exporting fresh fruit products (for example: jackfruit, barberry, dragon fruits, durian).

Ms. Hua Thi Hong, Deputy Director of the Customs Office of Huu Nghi International Border Gate, said: The branch focuses on analyzing information for imported and exported goods, only doing physical inspection when detecting shipments with violations, thereby helping to reduce procedures and shorten customs clearance time. At the same time, in order to reduce the vehicle congestion, the unit coordinated with the Center for Border Gate Management to arrange more channels for exporting (using Chinese cargo trucks after transferring goods to those of Vietnam).

In addition, the customs forces at Dong Dang International Station Border Gate and Chi Ma Border Gate have closely followed the direction of the Provincial Customs Department, actively developed, and implemented practical solutions to support businesses and facilitate import-export activities through the management area.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Vuong, Deputy Director of the Provincial Customs Department said: In this time, leaders of the department and leaders of the customs branches at the border gate regularly exchanged and held direct talks with the competent forces of China to strictly implement customs clearance procedures through the border gates of the two sides in accordance with regulations. At the same time, the Department directs customs branches at the border gate to work “Time is over but work is not”. Therefore, customs officials work on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. We establish a Zalo group to connect and exchange information with import-export enterprises, thereby, learning the difficulties to have timely recommendations. Additionally, to avoid the goods congestion and business financial loss, the Provincial Customs Department regularly updates the border trade activities sends to the Departments of Industry and Trade of other provinces and cities which have a large output of exported fresh in Lang Son.

Apart from promoting goods clearance, currently, customs branches at the border gate have online implemented administrative procedures via public service system fight against the pandemic. At the same time, branches have actively strengthened leadership and manage officials to replace civil servants and employees those under quarantine to ensure customs clearance activities.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic is leaving immerse impacts on the import and export activities through the area, the total turnover of goods through the province in the first eight months of 2021 reached $2,454 million, increasing to 65.5% compared to the same period in 2020 thanks to efforts of Lang Son Department of customs and other relevant departments, branches, and forces of the province.