Focusing on improving the capacity of customs clearance of goods through border gates

– On February 8, Mrs. Doan Thu Ha, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Committee chaired the meeting to grasp the situation of import and export activities of goods through the area; the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic; the management of customs agents, organizations and individuals doing import-export services and a number of other issues.

According to the report of the Management Board of the Dong Dang – Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone, at the time of the Lunar New Year holiday  (January 31, 2022), the total number of trucks waiting to be exported at 3 border gates (Huu Nghi, Tan Thanh, Chi Ma) were 474 vehicles. After the Tet holiday, customs clearance activities at 2 border gates (Huu Nghi and Tan Thanh) have resumed.

Accordingly, from February 3 to February 6, the total number of vehicles cleared through these two border gates was 313 vehicles. However, due to the low number of customs clearance vehicles, while the number of trucks carrying export goods to the border gate of the province increased, so as of the morning of February 7, the number of trucks carrying export goods at border gates have increased to more than 1,220 vehicles (634 vehicles at Huu Nghi; 587 vehicles at Tan Thanh).

Mrs. Doan Thu Ha, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Committee speaks at the meeting

In order to prevent the number of trucks carrying goods from being congested in the border gate area, the Management Board of Dong Dang – Lang Son Economic Zone has continued to coordinate with functional forces and border district authorities to continue to, arrange trucks carrying export goods to stop at some parking lots outside the border gate area (Transshipment area, Non-tariff area and Dragon accommodation area).

In addition, the forces in the border gate area of the province continue to strictly implement the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic to continue creating a safe green zone at the border gate area to ensure smooth import and export activities of goods.

At the meeting, the Provincial Customs Department also made a quick report on the operation of businesses acting as customs agents at the provincial border gates. Representatives of departments, agencies and sectors exchanged and discussed solutions to improve the capacity of goods clearance through border gates, solutions to arrange trucks carrying import and export goods in and out of the border gate area, arrange trucks to enter parking lots and waiting to enter the border gate at the yards outside the border gate area; discussed the management of the professional driver team at the border gates;…

After listening to the report, and based on the actual situation, speaking at the meeting, the Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Committee pointed out: Currently, the capacity of customs clearance of goods through 3 border gates of the province (Huu Nghi, Tan Thanh, Chi Ma) is very low (only about 120 cars can be cleared per day), so relevant sectors and forces at the gate continue to focus on implementing systematic solutions to improve the capacity of goods clearance at border gates. At the same time, sectors and forces continue to strictly implement the control of the COVID-19 pandemic at the border gate area.

Mrs. Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Committee directed the Management Board of Dong Dang – Lang Son Economic Zone continues to coordinate with relevant authorities to hold talks and exchanges with the Chinese side to agree on the method of delivery of goods between the two sides as soon as possible, and at the same time, agree to restore customs clearance activities at a number of other border gates; study to establish a “buffer zone” to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic in order to maintain a safe “green zone” for the border gate area; calculate the capacity of the yards, as well as the stopping and parking areas carrying export goods in order to promptly notify the temporary suspension of bringing vehicles to the provincial border gate; coordinate with forces at the border gate to develop a reasonable process for regulating export vehicles for each border gate, and at the same time ensure transparency in the regulation work.

The Vice Chairwoman also directed the Department of Industry and Trade to actively advise businesses on the situation of import and export activities of goods through the province so that businesses can grasp to promptly regulate the delivery of goods to the provincial border gate; the Department of Health to urgently agree with Chinese authorities on the disease control process; the Provincial Customs Department to urgently review and implement solutions to enhance the operational efficiency of customs agents; The border district administrations to actively coordinate with departments, sectors and forces at the border gate to well implement the regulation of trucks stopping and parking at the yards outside the border gate, and at the same time doing the good work to ensure security and order, preventing diseases; businesses need to actively coordinate with State management agencies to develop a strict and effective management plan for the professional driver team right after being transferred to manage the professional driver team…