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| Dong Thap Customs always supports and guides enterprises to comply with customs laws. Photo: T.H |
Many ways to support enterprises
In the last days of 2022, shipments of seafood and agricultural products for export are waiting for ships to leave Dong Thap port. Having just completed the procedures for 8 containers of pangasius to Europe and South America, Mr Phuoc Vinh, Head of Business Planning Division, International Seafood Joint Stock Company, said that to meet the year-end consumer demand, the company was promoting the export of pangasius to other countries. On average, the company exported about 30 containers of pangasius every month. Currently, customs procedures are very convenient. All stages were done on the electronic system. Along with that, the company was always facilitated and supported very well by the Sa Dec Port Customs Sub-Department, even on Saturdays and Sundays, so frozen seafood shipments need special preservation was always guaranteed in and timely exported.
Not only frozen seafood shipments but goods exported through the border gates in Dong Thap are also mainly agricultural products, processed goods, and export production, which are always prioritized and best facilitated by Dong Thap Customs Department.
As a large enterprise of Dong Thap, specializing in manufacturing export shoes for famous brands, a representative of Nghi Phong Joint Venture Co., Ltd. said that the company had invested in Vietnam for nearly 8 years, specializing in processing and manufacturing shoes for export, they received the attention and companionship from leaders to officers of Dong Thap Customs Department during the production process, especially during the time of being affected by the pandemic.
“Recently, the delegation of Dong Thap Customs Department led by the Department’s leader visited, encouraged and shared with the company about production activities and recorded and guided the company’s difficulties. It shows the companionship of the Customs authorities to enterprises,” a representative of Nghi Phong Joint Venture Co., Ltd. shared.
In 2022, the situation of the Covid-19 pandemic has been well controlled, especially since April 2022, border residents were allowed to enter and exit through the border gate, creating favourable conditions for the recovery and socio-economic development in Dong Thap province. In the above context, Dong Thap Customs Department organized to implement pandemic prevention and control strictly; ensure safe, flexible adaptation and maintain normal operations of agencies and units; and provide good service and facilitate import and export activities.
In particular, Dong Thap Customs Department has creative ways to support enterprises to adapt to the new situation. For example, according to Deputy Director of Dong Thap Customs Department Nguyen Huu Thanh, in addition to developing the partnership between Customs and enterprises through signing agreements and direct dialogue conferences with enterprises, Dong Thap Customs Department Thap had developed a companionship with enterprises by conducting a poll for enterprises that regularly carried out customs procedures in the area. Accordingly, at the departmental and sub-department levels, enterprises were consulted on customs procedures, common problems, recommendations, and assessing customs officers’ service attitude to have timely support and guidance solutions, helping enterprises recover and do business after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Creating a healthy investment environment
Sharing joy with us when Dong Thap Customs Department exceeded the second striving target assigned by the General Department of Customs, Director Nguyen Thanh Toan said that in 2022, the budget revenue unit reached nearly VND 400 billion, increased nearly 4 times compared to the norm of the ordinance and exceeded the target for the second time (VND 350 billion). This result, in addition to the consistent direction of leaders at all levels, the officers’ efforts in the unit also greatly contributed to the business community.
Import-export goods of Dong Thap enterprises had a remarkable growth in the past year. According to Director Nguyen Thanh Toan, in 2022, Dong Thap Customs Department had completed procedures for the high number of declarations and import-export turnover, with about 18,200 declarations, the turnover reaching about US$ 860 million, an increase of over 3,200 declarations over the same period. To perform their tasks well, the units maintain the correct implementation of professional processes and well implement the instructions of their superiors in the fields of work. Therefore, promptly report to the General Department of Customs any problems in carrying out the supervision of goods by electronic seals for liquid and bulk goods; and promptly issue documents directing the Sub-Departments to strengthen the inspection and supervision; implementing new regulations and instructions of superiors; promptly guide and solve problems for Sub-Departments in the process of implementing the Customs Law and relevant legal documents.
In addition to supporting and creating favourable conditions for enterprises to import and export goods, Dong Thap Customs Department always focuses on anti-smuggling and commercial fraud to create a healthy and equal business environment to attract investments, protect domestic enterprises, increase the export turnover of goods for the locality.
Taking us to practice in some border lines, the leader of Dong Thap Customs Department said that after the Covid-19 pandemic was controlled, the situation of transporting smuggled goods across the border had increased complicatedly at times. Dong Thap Customs Department effectively implemented anti-smuggling, and commercial fraud plans to manage the area well. At the same time, working well with functional forces to strengthen patrols, blocking and controlling smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across the border, the smuggling situation was controlled, and no smuggling lines or groups in the management area arose. Thanks to the good implementation of solutions, in 2022, Dong Thap Customs Department proactively detected and arrested over 130 customs law violations, sanctioned 37 cases with owners, and fined over VND 8 billion, confiscated VND 665 million worth of exhibits.
 | Dong Thap Customs busts two cases of cigarette smuggling, seizing nearly 2,500 packages |
We left Dong Thap border gate late in the afternoon when Customs officers were still diligently completing procedures for residents’ goods to cross the border, closely monitoring vehicles passing by, ensuring stability in the days leading up to Tet.