E-CUSTOMS SYSTEM HELPFUL TO BUSINESSES: SURVEY

Au Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of the General Department of Vietnam Customs’ Customs Control and Supervision Management Department, revealed the information at a meeting to garner businesses’ feedback on the system in Hanoi on November 3.

The survey was conducted on about 500 companies operating in different industries like processing, manufacturing and logistics to learn about hindrances to the implementation of the Vietnam Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System and the Vietnam Customs Information System (VNACCS/VCIS), he said.

A representative of the Brother Industries (Vietnam) Co. Ltd, based in the Phuc Dien Industrial Park in northern Hai Duong province, said since the VNACCS/VCIS was applied 18 months ago, it has taken only a few seconds for the firm to fill in a customs declaration form and receive the result, instead of about two minutes previously. The system has helped the company save 6,213 minutes and US$12,660 per month.

Meanwhile, some enterprises pointed out flaws in the VNACCS/VCIS regarding declaration forms which have some sections that do not ask for accurate corresponding information or need more space for filling.

The General Department of Vietnam Customs said it will take temporary measures to deal with the shortcomings, adding that the full system needs to be put into use and added with more functions so as to thoroughly address the problems.

The VNACCS/VCIS, worth nearly JPY2.7 billion (US$21.2 million) funded by the Japanese Government, ran in all 34 provincial and municipal customs departments across Vietnam from June 30, 2014.

The consultation meeting was held by the general department, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the USAID Governance for Inclusive Growth programme.

Source: VIR