In July 2015 a WCO Capacity Building support mission was undertaken to Viet Nam. The mission was the latest in a series of inputs as part of the Project for "Customs Capacity Building for WCO Members 2012-15" which is funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD). The aim of the project is to deliver technical assistance to seven countries in specific areas of Customs operations. As one of the countries participating in the project the assistance provided to Viet Nam has focused on capacity building on Customs Brokers and Stakeholder Engagement.
The mission commenced with a meeting between the WCO project manager and the Viet Nam Customs Team responsible for the design and implementation of new procedures for the licensing and control of Customs Brokers. The team provided an update on progress since the implementation of revised regulations in March of this year. Over eighty Customs Brokers have now been licensed under the new procedures. Further work is underway to provide additional training on the new procedures.
The opportunity was also taken to review progress with the implementation of a new Client Service Charter. The implementation of the revised Charter is to be supported by a Time Release Study, the results from which will be used to help improve services.
The mission concluded with a seminar to publicize new regulations on Customs to Business consultation. The event was attended by representatives from the business community and from Customs offices across the country. The highly interactive event was designed to increase awareness and understanding of the benefits for all involved in positive and structured engagement between Customs and the business community.
Following on from the seminar, the General Department of Viet Nam Customs (GDVC) facilitated a workshop to complete the first draft of a Consultation Manual. The workshop was attended by over seventy officers from thirty provinces and was focused on sharing best practice on Stakeholder Engagement.
For more information on the project for Customs Capacity Building for WCO Members 2012-15 please contact the Project Manager, Mr. Philip Wood Philip.Wood@wcoomd.org