Dong Nai Customs Department - Accompanying Friend of Enterprises

On the occasion of the 60^th establishment ceremony of the customs sector, Dong Nai Customs Department has been awarded the Labour Hero title, becoming one of two first units to receive such an honoured prize. It is a great achievement that a customs department, which has been operating for ten years, has attained in such a busy economic environment as Dong Nai. The department has become a reliable and loyal friend of enterprises in the province.

 

Dong Nai Province belongs to the southern key economic zone with 17 industrial parks (IPs), which have been approved by the Prime Minister. IPs in the province have attracted a lot of investors from 24 countries and territories around the world such as Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand. The province at present has 817 import and export businesses, 379 of them are foreign invested enterprises. The import-export turnover accounts for 10 per cent of the Vietnam’s total revenue.

 

In 1995, the Dong Nai Customs Department was established with the aim of strengthening foreign investment attraction and socio-economic development in the province. Aware of its position and importance, the department has kept upgrading its organization, knowledge, professionalism, and the effective application of informatics technology. Thus, the department has not only fulfilled its target, but also helped improve the province’s image regarding the investment climate, which has been highly appreciated by investors.

 

The significant achievement of the Dong Nai Customs Department is the successful application of informatics technology, which helps facilitate procedures and closely control management information and its database. The department has installed programs required by the General Customs Department, and 10 other software programs to manage professional qualifications, including some programs to supervise staff and goods to restrain fraud between staff and enterprises. In specific, the department launched software to inspect supervisors in 1996; software to manage staff, a hotline, and timetable to receive enterprises in 1997; software to automatically appoint goods supervision in 1998. In 1999, the department became the first unit of the province and also of the customs sector as a whole to build a website to provide information about import and export policies and customs procedures. This informative website has become a familiar and reliable address for importers and exporters, helping them access information timely and exactly, minimizing negative impacts caused by customs officials. In recent years, the department has continued applying a series of software applications to improve working procedures, saving time and money for local enterprises.

 

In 2003, Dong Nai Customs Department was the first unit of the customs sector to carry out checks on imported and exported goods with only one official. Eyeing modern management methods, the department plans to apply the quality management system ISO 9001:2000. It is expected the ISO certificate will be granted by the end of 2005. The whole sector in the province is looking forward to modernizing itself by using informatics technology. All transactions between enterprises and customs officials will be conducted via electronic systems.

 

Le Van Danh, Deputy Head of Dong Nai Customs Department, said that the Government should study and build the legal documents to instruct and stipulate the validity of e-transactions, e-signatures, and e-customs clearance.

 

After 10 years of operation and development, Dong Nai Customs Department has accomplished all tasks with high quality and efficiency, winning the hearts of the province’s leaders and support from enterprises.

 

In 2004, the province’s trade turnover reached $4.89 billion, an increase of 13 folds in comparison with the first year of operation. The levies on imports and exports were reported at VND2,478 billion, 18 times higher than in 1995, and four times higher than five years ago. The department has found and seized 588 violation cases, 7 times that of 1995. It collected VND2.32 billion from fines, a rise of 6.5 times against 1995.

 

The Labour Hero title awarded by the President is a great honour and encouragement to the Dong Nai Customs Department. It will continue to develop the achievements, maintain glorious traditions, make more efforts to complete the politic tasks entrusted by the customs sector and by Dong Nai Province in 2005 and the years to come.
Van Luong