A new automated customs system which is able to deal with declarations within three seconds became operational on April 1, according to the Customs of Vietnam under the Ministry of Finance.

Some customs departments, such as those of Hanoi and Hai Phong city, began applying the Vietnam Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System/Vietnam Customs Information System (VNACCS/VCIS) from this date.

Meanwhile, the customs agency of Ho Chi Minh City will put into use the system from May 15.

Deputy Director General of the Customs of Vietnam Vu Ngoc Anh said via VNACCS/VCIS, businesses can make customs declarations at anytime and anywhere, thus saving time and paper procedures.

The system will facilitate trade and investment activities, improve Vietnam ’s competitiveness and better the State’s management, he stated.

After a three-month trial period since November 15, 2013, up to 18,196 enterprises nationwide have registered to join the system, and 10,154 have run it on a trial basis.

VNACCS/VCIS, worth nearly 2.7 billion JPY (21.2 million USD) funded by the Japanese Government, is scheduled to be fully applied across Vietnam from June 1.-VNA