Customs office in HCM City to turn to e-customs clearance. — Photo viphealth.org

HCM CITY (Biz Hub)  — The HCM City Customs Department has begun its e-customs clearance procedures based on the VGACCS/VCIS system.

On April 1, the Viet Nam General Administration of Customs (VGAC) started installing the system in Ha Noi and Hai Phong.

The VNACCS/VCIS, based on Japanese models, the Nippon Automated Cargo Clearance System (NACCS) and Customs Intelligence System (CIS), is a modern e-clearance system dedicated to electronic processing of air and cargo to enable faster and more efficient customs clearance.

The implementation of VNACCS/VCIS in HCM City will be carried out in four phases.

The first phase will be implemented at the Sai Gon Port Border Customs Sub-department Region 1, the Sai Gon Port Border Customs Sub-department Region 3 and the New Port Customs Sub-department.

The Sai Gon Port Border Customs Sub-department Region II, the Customs Sub department managing goods used for investment activities, and the Hiep Phuoc Port Customs Sub-department will apply the VNACCS/VCIS in the second phase.

In the third phase, the use of the e-customs clearance system will begin at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs Sub-department, the Customs Sub-department managing Piece Work Goods, and the Express Delivery Customs Sub-department.

The Sai Gon Port Border Customs Sub-department Region 4 and the Customs Sub-departments in the Linh Trung and Tan Thuan Export Processing Zones will participate in the e-customs clearance system in the fourth phase.

A customs insider, who declined to be named, said the implementation of e-customs clearance has been a great success for the VGAC as well as the country's administrative reforms.

Import-export companies have also benefited from convenience, accuracy and savings in time and labour, as well as improved business efficiency.

Since Viet Nam joined the World Trade Organization in 2007, foreign direct investment in the country has increased rapidly.

Declaration documents have risen markedly from 1.16 million in 2002 to 4.16 million in 2010, placing a heavy burden on customs offices.

The Viet Nam Automated Cargo Clearance System (VNACCS) is aimed to improve the business environment as it helps reduce administrative costs and the time of handling customs clearance formalities.

In addition, it will contribute to stimulating the country's economic growth and strengthening connectivity between Viet Nam and the global economies through ASEAN's one-stop-shop mechanism. — VNS