70 percent of firms ask for simplified customs procedures: survey hinh anh 1Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)
 
Hanoi (VNA) – Up to 70 percent of the 3,000 import-export firms polled nationwide said they want simpler administrative procedures, as reported at a conference in Hanoi on January 8.

The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in collaboration with the General Department of Vietnam Customs, and the US Agency for International Development conducted the survey to make a 2018 report on business satisfaction concerning administrative procedures for import and export activities.

According to the report, 56 percent and 53 percent of the surveyed firms faced difficulties in looking for information about the procedures and in checking the codes of their submitted documents, respectively.

Some 53 percent of them suggested relevant agencies increase their application of IT technologies, while 43 percent asked for boosted customs openness and transparency as well as better performances of public personnel. Approximately 30 percent recommended the customs sector improve its infrastructure system.

Speaking at the conference, Dau Anh Tuan, head of the VCCI’s Legal Department, said the survey was carried out amid an emerging need of customs reform in line with the Government’s Resolution 19 on improving business climate and the national competitiveness.

It focused on the categories of information access, customs administrative procedures, customer services, the national single-window information portal, and unofficial fees, among others.

The survey was conducted as a way to make recommendations to relevant authorities for suitable amendments to legal regulations that could facilitate the business community.

Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Customs Hoang Viet Cuong said the sector has been working to implement a comprehensive reform toward reinforcing the customs – enterprise partnership and increasing activities that facilitate import and export activities.

The customs authority has held numerous surveys to promptly learn businesses’ difficulties and gather their feedback regarding procedures, he noted, adding that the comments have been turned into proposals to relevant State agencies.-VNA 
VNA