The Da Nang Customs Department held a ceremony on Wednesday to sign Memoranda of Understanding with businesses involving the first stage of the pilot programme on supporting and encouraging businesses to get involved in export- import activities on goods in the city.

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Ho Ky Minh speaking at the signing ceremony. Photo: M.Q

Speaking at the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Ho Ky Minh highly lauded the Customs Department for having been taking a series of solutions to facilitate trade activities, shorten customs clearance time, reduce costs and support businesses in import and export activities.

He also highlighted the importance of the pilot programme in creating motivation and reducing administrative procedures for businesses.

He affirmed that the municipal authorities will continue their efforts to help businesses to overcome their difficulties and attract investment, as well as support the business community to make stronger breakthroughs in the coming time and enhance its competitiveness to participate in the global value chain.

Accordingly, representatives of the Da Nang Customs Department, and 8 importers and exporters, signed Memoranda of Understanding to participate in the first stage of the pilot programme on supporting and encouraging businesses to participate in export and import activities in the city.

These businesses are the Da Nang Rubber JSC, the Thanh Dat Gas Company Limited, the Coca Cola Vietnam Beverage Company Limited in Da Nang, the Murata Manufacturing Vietnam Company Limited, the Vinatex Da Nang JSC, the Hoa Phat Da Nang Steel Pipe Company Limited, the Hoa Tho Textile and Garment Joint Stock Corporation, and the March 29 Textile and Garment JSC.

These businesses are eligible to be recognised as members of the programme as they meet the requirements of having import and export activities in the city, and having customs declarations, export and import turnover and tax payments related to large-scale import and export activities.

Representatives of the Da Nang Customs Department and the Vinatex Da Nang JSC signing a Memorandum of Understanding to participate in the programme. Photo: M.Q

It is known that the programme members will be assigned specialised civil servants to guide about customs procedures, policies on managing export and import goods; tax policy for export and import goods; classifying exported and imported goods; customs value declaration; certificate of origin (C/O); and other contents related to customs procedures.

They will have the right to arrange civil servants to work overtime, and on their days off and holidays in order to handle customs procedures as requested; and support to warn of errors and omissions within 60 days from the time of customs clearance of exported and imported goods so that members can promptly adjust and make additional declarations according to the provisions of law.

These businesses will be allowed to apply 100% of administrative procedures announced on the General Department of Customs’ online public service system, as well as will be supported in terms of troubleshooting system problems, and reporting software.

The programme will be piloted within a year from the date of issuance of the decision. The Da Nang Customs Department will periodically organise meetings to review, assess, adjust, supplement and complete the aforementioned programme.

Reporting by M.QUE - Translating by M.DUNG