Customs officials in An Giang Province inspect export good at the border gate. — VNA/VNS Photo

Export turnover through border gates in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang exceeded US$1.31 billion in 2020, a year-on-year increase of 8 per cent, according to the provincial Department of Customs.

Addressing a conference on Wednesday, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Le Van Phuoc asked the department to build a detailed plan to realise its goal for State budget collection and spending in 2021.

He asked the department to effectively implement tax and fee measures to support enterprises and business households in recovering production and business activities, while promptly solving difficulties related to tax administrative procedures for local people and enterprises.

Phuoc also underlined the need for the local customs sector to pay special attention to post-customs clearance inspections, specialised supervision, and combating smuggling and trade fraud, especially for conditional imports, independent shipments and temporary imports for re-export and temporary exports for re-import.

The sector should work with agencies to promote administrative reforms to improve the local business climate and competitiveness, he said.

The official also emphasised the importance of communication activities to raise public awareness about the dangers of smuggling and illegal cross-border trafficking of goods and urge people not to assist illegal acts.

According to the head of the provincial Department of Customers Tran Quoc Hoan, despite difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, An Giang’s customs department collected VND321.2 billion for the State budget last year, 45 per cent higher than the plan set by the Ministry of Finance.

A total of 62 smuggling cases and violations of customs regulations were handled in the year, collecting more than VND2.6 billion. — VNS