CUSTOMS SECTOR ACCELERATES TECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATION 4.0

Seen as the lead agency for central agencies in Vietnam to deploy the National Single Window (NSW) and the ASEAN Single Window (ASW) and facilitate trade performance, the customs sector has been accelerating the Fourth Industrial Revolution rapidly.

Built on VNACCS/VCIS platform

As a lead agency in advancing international integration, the customs sector has been spreading vigorously contents of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Customs reform, development and modernisation viewpoints based on information technology application are aimed to serve increasingly extensive international integration, particularly export and import, in the best and most effective manner. At the same time, integration trends also pose great difficulties and challenges to customs supervision and management to prevent and combat smuggling and trade fraud.

The customs sector has applied information technology towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution, especially in international integration. The IT systems developed and applied by the customs sector in the past years have served reform and modernisation of professional customs activities. Perhaps, the most typical breakthrough maker is the time of deploying the (Vietnam Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System/Vietnam Customs Intelligence Information System (VNACCS/VCIS) funded by the Government of Japan since on April 1, 2014.

VNACCS/VCIS has greatly benefited the business community and particularly facilitated customs declaration and clearance for goods, thus reducing the time and costs for businesses. For customs authorities, the VNACCS/VCIS system helps the Vietnamese customs system achieve the goal of a centralised IT system.

Integrated NSW, ASW and VASSCM

For the customs sector, since founding the data centre through the VNACCS/VCIS system, integrating technologies to reform and simplify administrative procedures, reduce clearance time and improve the performance of State customs management keeps moving forward.

New progresses included using bar codes in customs supervision; around the clock tax collection and payment in coordination with commercial banks, e-Manifes deployment and most recently the application of the Automated Customs Management System. This shows that the goal of further promoting IT application and system integrations in the spirit of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the customs is being implemented drastically and effectively.

For example, the Vietnam Automated System for Seaport Customs Management (VASSCM) has been officially deployed in Hai Phong City since December 1, 2017. This is considered the biggest information technology application breakthrough in customs after the launch of VNACCS/VCIS. With the VASSCM, customs authorities automatically connect with NSW to exploit the e-Manifest and VNACCS/VCIS and E-Customs (V5) serve inspection and monitoring. Meanwhile, for port operators, the system helps provide full and timely information on the status of customs clearance (from customs offices) of each shipment and each container to reduce the risk in carrying out delivery and receipt procedures in comparison with paper evidences. It enables management, calculation and storage of freight delivery documents in a fast, accurate, scientific and transparent manner, enhances prestige, increases the ability to receive, exploit goods and improve business efficiency and competitiveness.

As a lead agency in carrying out NSW and ASW, as the Standing Board of the National Steering Committee, the General Department of Vietnam Customs worked closely with relevant ministries and agencies to make Vietnam one of the first four ASEAN countries to join the ASW, together with Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand in September 2015. In particular, the NSW has been working with 11 ministries and agencies responsible for managing imports and exports and conducted nearly 50 important administrative procedures (as of the end of April 2018, not counting procedures provided by the Ministry of Finance). This, therefore, helps companies to deal with administrative procedures and authorities to perform their tasks more effectively and conveniently.

In the coming years, accelerating information technology application to enable “anywhere, anytime and any means” electronic customs is a specific, important objective of the customs sector. At the same time, equipping and enhancing the use of modern technological devices to inspect and supervise key areas is also underlined.

The sector will further promote online public services with the highest level; expand connectivity and carry out the NSW with all relevant ministries, fully participate in the ASW; and connect professional information exchanges with customs authorities in other countries and with the World Customs Organisation (WCO).

Source: VCCI


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