National one-door customs mechanism was officially launched at ports in five localities from May 6. — Photo baomoi.com

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The national one-door customs mechanism was officially launched at ports in five localities, namely Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Da Nang, HCM City and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, on May 6.

Under the mechanism, all businesses operating in the field of sea transport will complete procedures relating to exit and entry activities and sea vessels in transit as well as freight information at the national one-door portal https://www.vnsw.gov.vn.

The Quang Ninh Customs Department said it has prepared computers with Internet-connection at all ports and has assigned officials on duty to assist businesses in utilising the system.

The department got relevant state management agencies at ports in the five localities to assign officials on duty around the clock to help deal with information on the portal.

The system was launched on a trial basis in the northern port city of Hai Phong last November.

The national one-door customs mechanism has been launched with the aim of reducing customs clearance time from 21 days to 14 days for exports and 13 days for imports, and bringing down costs by 10-20 per cent as well as reducing customs clearance time for businesses by 30 per cent.

With the convenient national one-door customs mechanism, businesses can now save costs and time. In addition, export-import procedures and records will become more clear and simple.

The mechanism can be useful for e-customs processes as well as procedures for granting commodity origin certificates for export goods, following an agreement among ASEAN member states on preferential tariffs on imports and exports.

Viet Nam established a steering committee in 2011, with Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh as the head, for the ASEAN one-door mechanism.

To implement the mechanism, participating countries must have their own system, that is, the national one-door customs mechanism. All the export-import documents and papers of businesses will be posted on this system. Management agencies related to export-import activities, such as the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance, can also exchange information through the system.

Businesses that have yet to register their accounts and digital signatures can view the instructions to register and download related documents on the portal or on the website of the General Department of Customs at https://www.customs.gov.vn.

To support businesses, the General Department of Customs has also set up hot lines: 04.37824754; 04.37824755; 04.37824756 and 04.37824757. — VNS