Da Nang is one of the six Vietnamese localities to have been selected to pilot the establishment of a local-level Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) mechanism funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

According to USAID’s website, the five-year, over 22.2 million $ USAID TFP aims to support the Vietnamese government to adopt a risk management approach to customs and specialised inspection agencies. TFP will help strengthen the implementation of the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, of which both Viet Nam and the United States are members, thereby assisting Viet Nam in achieving its development objectives while reducing the time and cost to trade.

Under the USAID TFP, focus will on supporting the standardisation of policies and procedures for exports and imports, strengthening national and provincial coordination, and building the capacity of provincial customs officers. This will help Viet Nam develop a more attractive and predictable trade and investment climate for domestic small and medium-sized enterprises as well as international traders and investors.

Da Nang government has asked the municipal Department of Industry and Trade to come up with ideas of establishing a pilot TFP mechanism in the city.

By TRIEU TUNG- Translated by A.T