Despite being simplified, Vietnam’s customs procedures remain much more complicated compared to regional countries, affecting business competitiveness.
Every year, 36% of shipments in Vietnam have to go through technical checks
At a recent meeting with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Deputy Minister of Finance Do Hoang Anh Tuan said that around 74,000 companies in Vietnam currently operate in import and export areas. The average clearance customs time for imports is 10 days and 12 days for exports, which has been cut from 21 days last year; but this was still twice as long as the regional average.
Meanwhile, every year, 36% of shipments in Vietnam have to go through technical checks which are related to different agencies and ministries. The rate is two and a half to three times higher than in Asia Pacific and Europe respectively. This is among reasons to make the clearance customs processes are more complicated.
However, the long and complicated technical checks haven’t even proven effective; as a very small rate of checked goods were found to have violated regulations, while the majority has been approved to pass.
At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said that if clearance customs time is reduced by one day, companies could USD200 each consignment, or USD800 million for the whole country annually.
Dam also urged concerned agencies and ministries to simplify procedures to cut the rate of goods which have to go through technical checks by 15% by the end of this year under the government's instruction.