At the dialogue conference “Removing Difficulties for Enterprises in Import and Export Activities in 4 Provinces and Cities (Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen)” organized by Vietnam Federation of Trade and Industry (VCCI), many enterprises said, that the obstacles in complying with import and export administrative procedures have caused companies to lose many business opportunities.

Representing over 350 import-export companies, Ms. Luong Thu Huong, chairwoman of the Hai Duong Business Association, said the companies are tired of the specialized inspection. Verification procedures are not fast, update information is not synchronized. Although customs clearance and electronic clearance are completed, they must bring a stamped declaration of surrender at the end. Also paid taxes online but need to give a copy to the customs office.

PROCEDURE “AS A WOMAN”

In addition, the customs clearance inspection time is still slow, which affects the quality of goods, especially agricultural products. Administrative procedures still have many points of inconsistency between ministries, departments and agencies. Logistic services do not have a comprehensive chain like seaports, warehouses and shipyards, so they are still complicated, incomplete and not synchronized. At the border crossings to China, there are often backlogs of goods without any investment in the construction of cold stores.

In addition, the labor cost in the port, inland transportation is almost double the cost of the seaport. Lending rates rose, exchange rates fluctuated in a high range. Incoming invoices of agricultural products are not available, so it is difficult for cost accounting…

The state is currently relaxing the fee class. Most of the human resources working in companies have not been trained in this field, while drivers also need to be trained in basic knowledge of transportation, delivery process, etc.

Another difficulty is that there are not many thematic courses for companies planning to export goods. Specifically: Leading the most fundamental process in the process of understanding the market, local culture and administrative procedures.

Although companies have actively researched websites and documents, there is still a need for specialized courses. Businesses have not grasped the pros and cons of implementing trade deals that have been implemented.

As an exporter of ready-to-eat perch, Ms Bui Thi Khanh, director of Khanh Tho Company, said the company lacks information on quality standards, regulations and barriers in import markets.

These difficulties are highlighted by VCCI’s regular survey of companies on the implementation of import and export management procedures. Research shows that about 38% of companies still have difficulty understanding information about administrative procedures, especially among FDI companies (44.3%) and large companies (VND 50 billion and over Dong 300 billion).

What is currently lacking is a way to provide comprehensive, centralized, easily understandable and usable information. Ministries and branches often have their own information infrastructure to disseminate information, but each ministry and sector only focuses on specialized information in the area they manage.

In addition, ministries and agencies are not able to disseminate information, which means that the search for information takes a long time. Interdisciplinary collaboration in disseminating information is also ineffective. Companies have to look for information in many places, even go directly to the authorities to ask for clarification. Even in the National Single Window, companies have difficulty looking up information and posing and solving problems.

Businesses are concerned about changing customs regulations. In particular, when conducting records review procedures, companies are often required to provide information and documents outside of the regulations. Customs officials do not provide adequate and dedicated guidance; does not share information and handling procedures…

Companies also face similar difficulties when it comes to checking goods. Meanwhile, long test times and overlapping test content are still common. In the pre-declaration stage of customs declaration, companies often face difficulties to confirm the HS code and determine the customs value in the stage of customs declaration.

According to the companies, the arrangement and procedures for the professional examination are still complicated, different according to departments and types of goods, while the understanding and implementation of departments is not uniform. The list of goods subject to specialist inspection is too extensive, the implementation of the specialist inspection is still cumbersome, most of the specialist inspection procedures are carried out at the border gate, but there are still cases where companies need to do this until the new ministries solve the problem. This fact causes many annoyances due to the increase in the cost and compliance time of the companies.

COMPANIES REALLY WANT TO RUN A SHOP

In order to facilitate cross-border trade activities and help import-export companies alleviate difficulties, the Hai Duong provincial business leader suggested that ministries and sectors agree to issue regulations so that import-export companies really can only operate through one door can go.

At the same time, further reduce the time for customs clearance inspections and subject inspections, and consider supplemental regulations according to FTA obligations. Continue administrative reform to reduce administrative procedures for imports and exports, especially conditional permits that are not really necessary.

The content of the article was published in Vietnam Economic Review No. 11-2023, issued on March 13, 2023. Welcome readers to read The:

https://postenp.phaha.vn/chi-tiet-toa-soan/tap-chi-king-te-viet-nam