Vietnamlawmagazine

A national single-window customs mechanism was launched on September 8 in Hanoi with technical connection to the ASEAN mechanism.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh, who is the Head of the National Steering Committee on ASEAN and National Single-Window Customs Mechanisms, said the move was a turning point in accelerating administrative reform toward an e-government.

Vietnam has enacted a number of synchronous measures to speed up administrative reform, shorten the time and reduce costs for customs clearance to facilitate business and investment activities, Ninh said.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung launches the national single-window customs mechanism__Photo: Duc Tam/VNA

He added the national and ASEAN mechanisms would help simplify administrative procedures in accordance with international practices and standards to facilitate trade, investment and tourism.

Through the implementation of the mechanisms, Vietnam is determined to fulfill its commitment to working with other ASEAN countries to realize the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community by the year-end, Ninh stated.

The Deputy Prime Minister called for a close coordination among ministries, sectors and foreign organizations to make the ASEAN and national single-window customs mechanisms effective and beneficial to businesses and people.

During 2015-16, the steering committee plans to connect the national single-window mechanism to the ASEAN mechanism, share information on ASEAN certificates of origin, form D, and the ASEAN Customs Declaration Document for Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Between 2016 and 2020, the mechanism will be made available to all ministries and sectors in the form of online public services while increasing information sharing with trade partners inside and outside ASEAN via the ASEAN single-window portal.- (VNS/VLLF)