Promoting customs partnerships

Developing customs-business partnerships is receiving special attention from the Provincial Customs Department and is identified as a key content in customs reform and modernization. Thereby, it not only creates favorable conditions and maximum support for import-export businesses but also improves the quality of the province's investment and business environment.

Leaders of the Provincial Customs Department and businesses signed a customs-business partnership agreement in 2024.

According to information from Thanh Hoa Customs Department, the work of developing customs-business partnerships and related parties is carried out at both levels: department level and branch level. At the department level, partnership activities are linked to implementation issues, while partnership at the branch level is linked to the regular, daily activities of the unit. This task is carried out synchronously and effectively in all four major solution groups: information, consultation, participation and cooperation.

Accordingly, every year, the Provincial Customs Department has implemented various forms of propaganda, dissemination and legal support for businesses. Publicly posting administrative procedures, policies and laws on customs at the office and on the electronic environment, combined with propaganda to raise awareness and sense of law compliance for the business community. Focusing on consultation with businesses in the area to promptly remove difficulties and obstacles and making recommendations to the General Department of Customs and the Provincial People's Committee on issues beyond their authority.

From 2014 to 2024, through dialogue conferences, propaganda, telephone, documents and directly at the place of procedure, customs units in the province have consulted and answered questions for thousands of businesses with import-export activities in the management area. The responses mainly focused on issues such as: regulations on procedures for exported, imported goods, processed goods, and export production; value added tax refund procedures; customs declaration value of imported goods; problems with the automatic customs management and supervision system (VASSCM)... The consultation opinions of businesses have been proactively grasped and promptly answered by the Thanh Hoa Provincial Customs Department.

In an effort to improve the quality of service for businesses in customs procedures, customs management, creating a transparent and fair import-export environment, contributing to improving national competitiveness, in recent times, the Provincial Customs Department has focused on effectively implementing solutions to support businesses. In particular, focusing on reforming administrative procedures and implementing customs procedures in the electronic environment is of primary concern. At the same time, support and promote digital transformation of businesses and related parties to ensure synchronization with the digital transformation process of the customs sector. All branches assign permanent leaders to directly receive and resolve comments, recommendations and problems of businesses during the customs procedures. Proactively coordinate with functional forces at border gates to carry out customs clearance of goods quickly, continuously, promptly, safely and in accordance with regulations. With this approach, in recent years, Thanh Hoa Provincial Customs Department has always been ranked high in the Competitiveness Index of provincial departments, branches, and district-level People's Committees of the province and is the leading unit in the administrative reform index of the General Department of Customs.

Through management work, the local customs authority has selected enterprises with a good history of complying with customs laws and regularly conducting import-export activities to sign cooperation agreements, promoting cooperation between the two sides. Particularly at the department level, from 2014 to 2024, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Customs Department has signed cooperation agreements with 42 associations and enterprises.

The customs-business partnership is also focused on by the branches to be promoted in depth with many practical and substantial solutions. Head of Thanh Hoa Port Customs Branch Ngo Van Thanh said that in addition to maintaining 24/24 duty to promptly resolve problems arising from businesses in the process of handling customs procedures, the branch has proactively connected and coordinated with agencies at road and sea border gates nationwide to facilitate quick customs clearance of import and export goods of businesses. At the same time, encourage and support businesses to voluntarily comply with customs laws. In the past 5 years, the branch has signed customs-business partnership agreements with 10 businesses.

In addition to promoting cooperation agreements, Thanh Hoa Provincial Customs Department has maintained annual dialogue conferences to disseminate customs policies and laws and promptly receive and answer opinions and problems from businesses. At the same time, it has promoted cooperation with associations and businesses through the development and signing of specific cooperation programs, aiming at understanding and consensus between customs agencies and businesses. This approach has been recognized and highly appreciated by many businesses, as stated by Deputy General Director of VAS Nghi Son Group Joint Stock Company Nguyen Bao Khanh: During the entire process of investment, production, business, import and export, VAS Nghi Son has always been facilitated by Nghi Son Port Customs Branch, actively and proactively resolving promptly arising problems in customs procedures.

Deputy Director of Thanh Hoa Provincial Customs Department Le Xuan Cuong said that the development of cooperation and partnership between customs agencies, enterprises and related parties is increasingly going into depth and substance, thereby creating a solid foundation and contributing to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of State management of customs. The Provincial Customs Department is continuing to focus on implementing this task and identifying this as the key content in the work of reforming and modernizing customs, aiming to facilitate enterprises, create a healthy business environment, contribute to increasing competitiveness and attracting investment in Thanh Hoa province.

Article and photos: Dong Thanh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/thuc-day-quan-he-doi-tac-hai-quan-doanh-nghiep-di-vao-chieu-sau-thuc-chat-227851.htm