Customs sector must aim for dual goals

(PLVN) - According to Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang, in the coming time, the Customs sector must strive to address challenges, both simplifying procedures and strengthening the fight against smuggling and trade fraud to achieve the dual goal of maximizing trade facilitation, ensuring national security and preventing the highest budget loss.

On December 16, the General Department of Customs held an online conference to review the results of work in 2024 and deploy tasks for 2025. Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang attended and directed the conference. Director General Nguyen Van Tho chaired the conference.

Budget revenue is expected to reach 418 trillion VND

In 2024, under the consistent and timely leadership of the Party; the Government, the Prime Minister and the close attention and direction of the Ministry of Finance, the coordination of central ministries, branches and local authorities, the General Department of Customs has synchronously and drastically implemented practical solutions to facilitate trade, remove difficulties for businesses, while ensuring customs management and achieving many positive results.

With the reform and facilitation efforts of the Customs sector, import and export activities in 2024 have many improvements. Updated from the beginning of the year to December 14, 2024, it reached 745.38 billion USD, an increase of 15.35% over the same period in 2023. Vietnam's trade balance of goods as of December 14, 2024 had a surplus of 23.42 billion USD.

Director General of the General Department of Customs Nguyen Van Tho. (Photo: HP)

With the results achieved over the past 11 months, the total import-export turnover for the whole year of 2024 is forecast to reach about 782.33 billion USD, with a trade surplus estimated at 23.53 billion USD.

Regarding state budget revenue, in 2024, the General Department of Customs was assigned by the National Assembly to collect an estimated revenue of VND 375,000 billion. In order to strive to achieve the assigned target, the General Department of Customs issued Directive No. 371/CT-TCHQ dated January 24, 2024 on synchronous and drastic implementation of solutions to facilitate trade, improve the effectiveness of state management, and prevent revenue loss in implementing the state budget revenue task in 2024.

As a result, by December 14, 2024, the entire industry collected VND 402,680 billion, reaching 107.4% of the estimate, up 13.9% over the same period in 2023. The General Department of Customs expects revenue in 2024 to reach VND 418,000 to 420,000 billion, equal to 111.5% - 112% of the assigned estimate, up 13.4% - 13.9% over the same period in 2023.

Regarding the direction and tasks for 2025, the General Department of Customs assessed that the socio-economic situation poses many challenges and opportunities for the Customs sector. In order to meet the requirements of the integration period and strive to achieve many achievements towards the 80th anniversary of the Traditional Day of Vietnam Customs (September 10, 1945 - September 10, 2025), the General Department of Customs continues to resolutely, synchronously and effectively implement the tasks and solutions set out in the Resolutions and Conclusions of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo; Resolutions of the National Assembly, the Government, and the direction of the Prime Minister.

Propose 6 key tasks and solutions

Speaking at the Conference, Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang acknowledged and commended the General Department of Customs' work results in 2024. At the same time, the Minister gave important instructions for the General Department of Customs to successfully complete its goals and tasks in 2025.

Conference scene. (Photo: HP)

Accordingly, in the coming time, the Customs sector must strive to address challenges, both simplifying procedures and strengthening the fight against smuggling and trade fraud to achieve the dual goal of maximizing trade facilitation, ensuring national security and preventing the highest budget loss.

In 2025, the Customs sector needs to make more efforts, focusing on key tasks and solutions. Firstly , continue to closely follow the direction of the Party, the Government, and the Ministry of Finance to focus on coordinating the implementation of key tasks of the Finance sector in general and the Customs sector in particular. Promote the implementation of the Customs Development Strategy to 2030, the 5-year and annual Customs modernization development plan in the entire sector with the general goal of building a standardized, modern Vietnam Customs, on par with the Customs of developed countries in the world.

Second , focus on reviewing, proposing amendments, supplements, building and perfecting the system of customs legal documents in accordance with the new organizational model and management requirements. Proactively grasp the difficulties of enterprises to promptly guide, answer and remove difficulties and obstacles. Actively implement the law-making program, build approved legal documents including important Decrees and Circulars in the customs sector.

Third , resolutely implement the arrangement and streamlining of the apparatus organization in accordance with the policies of the Party, the State, and the Ministry of Finance, build a professional and modern Customs force, meeting the requirements of customs modernization reform. Ensure that the new apparatus goes into operation immediately, without interrupting work, without affecting the normal activities of society and people.

The implementation process needs to pay special attention to the dissemination, dissemination, raising awareness and ideological orientation for cadres, civil servants and employees of units in the whole industry to support, share and strictly comply with the Party and Government's policies on restructuring and streamlining the apparatus to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the political system to meet the requirements of the country's tasks in the new era, the era of national development.

Fourth , focus on implementing the digital transformation plan of the Customs sector until 2025 and orientation to 2030. Carry out well the reform of administrative procedures, modernize customs work, continue to facilitate businesses; in which focus on implementing the Project to build an Information Technology System to implement Digital Customs to meet professional requirements in customs clearance.

Research and apply the achievements of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 to serve the process of building Digital Customs and Smart Customs. The Customs sector must identify digital transformation as both a goal and an important solution to build a modern, standardized Vietnam Customs on par with the customs of developed countries in the world.

Fifth , continue to perform well in tax management; strengthen review and grasp revenue sources; implement solutions to increase revenue and prevent loss of state budget revenue.

Sixth , be resolute and proactive in the fight against smuggling and trade fraud, especially drug prevention. Continue to effectively and synchronously implement solutions to protect sovereignty, public security and safety, and fight against smuggling and trade fraud.

The tasks of the Customs sector in the coming time are still very large, it is necessary to continue to promote the achieved results, overcome the shortcomings and limitations to complete the set goals. Minister Nguyen Van Thang emphasized that the Ministry of Finance will create the most favorable conditions for the Customs sector, continue to direct relevant units to coordinate and support the sector in the process of performing assigned tasks, especially removing difficulties, obstacles and shortcomings.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/nganh-hai-quan-phai-huong-toi-muc-tieu-kep-post535073.html