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Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc: to urgently finalize the Decree and Action Plan on Single Window

Summary

The Customs Newspaper would like to introduce the speech by the Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, to conclude the conference "Promotion of the National Single Window (NSW), ASEAN Single Window (ASW) and Trade Facilitation“, which took place on the morning of 24th July 2018 in Hanoi.

Updated on : 26-07-2018

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated at the conference. Photo: Hong Van.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc requested the Ministry of Finance to urgently finalize the draft Decree on the implementation of administrative procedures through NSW, ASW and specialized inspection for import and export goods; the Action Plan to promote NSW, ASW and reform of specialized inspection to facilitate trade. According to him, this was considered as an important content of the Conference.

Praising the Ministry of Finance and General Department of Customs

In the Decree and the Action Plan, the PM required for more breakthrough, effective and practical reform, especially for the specialized management of import and export goods to remove existing inadequacies, in order for contributing to promoting imports and exports, international and regional trade, which is the driving force for economic growth.

In addition to facilitating import-export activities, the PM also stressed that it was necessary to control and combat smuggling, trade frauds and protection of people’s health. Thus, sanctions to strictly handle organizations and individuals involved in violations on food safety and trade frauds must be required.

Mr. Phuc recognized and highly appreciated the National Steering Committee for ASW, NSW and Trade Facilitation (referred to as the National Steering Committee 1899), all levels, sectors, and especially the business community, for their efforts and initiative in the implementation of tasks assigned by the Government and himself, creating important premise for the implementation of tasks in the following periods.

In particular, he praised the active efforts of the Ministry of Finance and the General Department of Customs in the role of a Standing Agency of the National Steering Committee 1899 and an Implementation Agency, which significantly contributed to the implementation of NSW, ASW and trade facilitation.

Together with the Ministry of Finance, the PM also praised the determination of the Ministries: Industry and Trade, Transportation, Science and Technology, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Health in coordination with the Ministry of Finance to implement NSW, ASW and trade facilitation.

"The ministries and sectors which are not praised today, are ministries and sectors annoying production and business, and failing with policies set out by the Government,” the PM said.

Leaders of the Ministry of Finance, leaders of the General Department of Customs and delegates attended the conference. Photo: Hong Van.

Do not “hug” unnecessary conditions to release productivity

In order to improve the effectiveness of NSW, ASW and trade facilitation, the Prime Minister required collaboration among sectors and levels to improve the investment environment and national competitiveness, promote sustainable development and sustainable growth, especially complying well to Resolution 01 and Resolution 19 of the Government.

At the same time, the National Steering Committee 1899 instructed the Ministry of Finance to sum up, and strictly consider comments at the conference to promptly finalize 2 draft Decrees and the Action Plan to create a legal basis for promotion of NSW, ASW and trade facilitation. Accordingly, the Ministry of Finance shall submit to the Prime Minister for approval the Action Plan in August 2018, and submit to the Government for issuance of the Decrees in September 2018.

Regarding the specialized management and inspection, Mr. Phuc noted that there is no excuse for delaying the circulation of goods by not implementing specialized inspections, it strives to reduce the proportion of shipments subject to specialized inspection to 15%, while ensuring the management requirements of the State agencies for anti-smuggling, anti-trade fraud and the protection of the people's health.

He directed ministries and sectors to review, reduce and simplify 50% of the list of goods and specialized inspection procedures; to terminate the situation of lacking regulations on standards, criteria or inspection methods for list of goods subject to specialized inspection (except for specialized goods).

Moreover, ministries and sectors are to continue to review legal documents on specialized management, compare them with the objectives and tasks set forth in the Government's Resolutions and the Action Plan mentioned above to amend and supplement towards minimizing the items that need not be inspected before Customs clearance.

He stressed that the specialized management and inspection spirit should shift from pre-inspection into post-inspection on the basis of risk management and compliance assessment; the inspection methods and criteria must be transparent and publicized; and the specialized inspection must be socialized. In particular, ministries and sectors do not “hug” unnecessary conditions to release productivity.

The Prime Minister requested the Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and cities to closely coordinate with the National Steering Committee 1899, the Ministry of Finance and other concerned ministries and sectors to regularly direct and monitor the implementation of NSW, ASW and trade facilitation in each area. Especially, the directors of the local customs departments must do well with advising local authorities on the implementation of NSW, ASW and trade facilitation in the localities, especially the key export and import ones.

The Prime Minister requested that every 6 months or unexpectedly, the Ministry of Finance, the Standing Agency (General Department of Customs shall report to the National Steering Committee 1899 on the results of implementation of NSW, ASW and trade facilitation.

source: Customs News