PM asks for quick reform in customs sector

PM Nguyen Tan Dung - Photo: VGP

It is unacceptable to process customs procedures related to import for four days while the average time in the region is just three days, said PM Dung.

He called for further application of information technology in order to facilitate export/import activities and reduce contact time between enterprises and customs officers.

PM Dung assigned the Ministry of Finance to work with other ministries and agencies to design an inter-ministerial coordination mechanism and review relevant legal regulations so as to streamline customs procedures and cut down the number of papers currently required for imports.

The sector must also tighten management over customs officers at grass-root levels. Those who lend hands to smuggling and tax evasion must be excluded.

PM Dung tasked the sector to fruitfully implement the ASEAN and national one-stop shop customs models.

Tax and customs reform is among major tasks that the Government set out at the beginning of this year.

PM Dung on March 18 signed the Resolution No. 19/NQ-CP  which figures out solutions for improving the business environment and national competitiveness.

Under the Resolution, the Government will strive to reach the average of the ASEAN-6 countries with the following concrete targets:

- Simplify procedures and cut the time required to establish new businesses down to the maximum of six days; to improve other relevant steps to shorten the time from business registration to commencement;

- Further reform dossier processing steps and tax payment procedures and reduce the time for businesses to complete tax payment procedures to the average level of the ASEAN-6 countries (the average time to pay tax in ASEAN-6 countries is 171 hours per year);

- Shorten the time for businesses and investment projects to get access to electricity to no more than 70 days (the average time to access to electricity in the ASEAN-6 countries is 50.3 days);

- Improve the regulations on property rights and protection of investors in the Investment Law and the Law on Enterprises towards enhancing the protection of property rights, investors and minority shareholders in accordance with international standards;

- Facilitate and guarantee equality, openness and transparency in market-based access to credits among enterprises, organizations and individuals of all economic sectors;

- Simplify processes, dossiers and procedures related to export, import and customs and reduce the time for import and export clearance to the average of the ASEAN-6 countries (the average time for export clearance in the ASEAN-6 countries is 14 days and import clearance is 13 days);

- Cut short the time for handling business insolvency to no more than 30 months;

- Publicize the information about business performance and corporate finance in accordance with legal regulations international best practices.