In 2012, the slowdown of world economies in general and Vietnamese economy in particular affected the implementation of key tasks of the customs sector of Vietnam, including State Budget collections. "With its constant efforts, the results obtained on several aspects of the customs sector in 2012 are noteworthy and uplifting, thus laying a driving force for 2013," said Nguyen Ngoc Tuc, General Director of the General Department of Customs (GDC), in an interview with the Vietnam Business Forum. Song Linh reports.
As of the end of November 2012, the revenue collection of the State Budget grossed VND178,612 billion, equal to 79.8 per cent of estimations and down 9.4 per cent year on year. This is a remarkable achievement for the customs sector in the face of global, regional and national economic declines, said General Director Nguyen Ngoc Tuc.
Apart from its endeavour for State budget collection, could you talk about remarkable achievements in the fight against smuggling recognised by the State and the public in the past year?
In 2012, the customs sector uncovered more than 20,000 cases of violating customs laws, confiscated goods worth hundreds of billions of Vietnamese dong, and collected an estimated VND200 billion for the State Budget. Notably, we successfully razed many air, sea and road trafficking cases. Specifically, in late July 2012, the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department caught red-handed the illegal export of temporarily imported 1,650 tonnes of gasoline (worth about VND27 billion) at sea. This was the premise for the Government and State authorities to restore the order of activities related to temporary import for re-export. Besides, we could not forget the feat of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Customs. In 2012, it excellently detected and prevented many cases of transporting prohibited goods, opium and tax-avoided goods. Particularly, on July 30, 2012, it arrested, prosecuted, and dispatched to the investigation police a smuggling of 2,475 kilos of ivory valued at some VND103 billion. With this victory, on September 24, 2012, State President Truong Tan Sang sent a letter praising the achievement of the staff of the Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department.
One of the key tasks of the customs development strategy is administrative procedure reform and customs modernisation. Would you be kind enough to talk about these activities in 2012 and the plans for the coming years?
The year 2012 marked our sector’s outstanding effort for administrative reform and customs modernisation.
In administrative reform, in 2012, the sector focused on reviewing 13 groups of administrative procedures related to temporary import for re-export, transit goods, prioritised enterprises and e-customs clearance, and proposed simplifying 10 administrative procedures out of 28 administrative procedures reviewed. This achievement saved 31 per cent of compliance costs on administrative procedures, higher than the target.
As for customs modernisation, the customs sector continued deploying electronic customs procedures on a broader scale, completing legal basis and automation level. To date, e-customs procedures have been deployed to 21 out of 34 provincial and municipal customs departments (101 customs branches) and are expected to cover 13 remaining localities in 2013 as planned.
In the year, we also launched the Vietnam Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System and the Vietnam Customs Information System (VNACCS/VCIS) funded by the Government of Japan. So far, the VNACC/VCIS project has completed the detailed system design and has kept on track for its expected application in January 2014.
Vietnam’s economy is predicted to continue to face difficulties in 2013. How will the customs sector plan to fulfil its assigned tasks?
The customs sector will focus on three groups of key tasks as follows:
One, we will continue simplifying administrative procedures and facilitating import-export operations. Specifically, we will expand e-customs procedures in adherence to Decree 87/2012/ND- CP approved by the government, effective from January 1, 2013; deploy the National Single Window mechanism and pilot connection with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in goods item licensing and policy administration; focus resources on the reception of Japan’s VNACCS/VCIS system as committed; and accelerate the modernisation of import-export checking equipment, vehicles, immigrants and emigrants.
Two, we will ensure State budget collection task. We will facilitate import-export activities in association with tax debt recovery. Specifically, we will review enterprises with big tax debts, foreign-invested enterprises, and enterprises involved in temporary import for re-export; classify and list high-risk companies to track and apply close management measures. We will strengthen coordination with other local agencies and governments to boost the effectiveness in tax debt management and recovery. We will intensify the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, transportation of prohibited items, and acts that may harm national security; and prevent the emergence of big linked rings. We will promote post-clearance checks and timely prevent acts of trade fraud and tax evasion.
Three, we will build a strong, clean staff, and organise intensive professional training for the staff to meet customs modernisation requirements. We will continue to accelerate and uphold administrative discipline in implementing tasks and execute Circular 04/CT-BTC dated December 20, 2011 of the Minister of Finance on the strengthening of discipline and punishment in task performance; and build and boost the image of professional, friendly customs officials.
Thank you very much!
Vietnamese
