VietNamNet Bridge – Tran Thanh Hai, deputy director of the Import/Export Department, under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, spoke to Customs Online about Viet Nam's implementation of the National Single Window.

How much has the Ministry of Industry and Trade implemented the National Single Window programme?

By now, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) has co-ordinated with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Transport to develop the Circular 84/2013 requiring import-export enterprises to upgrade their IT infrastructure systems to ensure good connection between enterprises and government agencies or between government agencies with other ASEAN member states.

The MOIT has launched some pilot applications to help enterprises get used to filling in the forms online, particular the filing of C/O (certificate of origin). Last week, a new application was added – import-export certificates of industrial explosive materials online.

So far, the MOIT has offered five administrative procedures through the NSW. They are: certificates for big engine motorcycles; for import-export of materials to help reducing ozone depletion; C/O sample D; import-export certificate for industrial explosive materials; and certificates for the Kimberley Process for Rough Diamonds.

Since May 2015, the MOIT has granted C/O online for export enterprises. Will you please further elaborate on how the work has been done so far?

Up to now, six out of eight C/O certificates have been granted online. The remaining two certificates on sample D still have to be done on paper due to high security reasons.

By co-ordinating closely with the General Department of Viet Nam Customs, we have exchanged information of the granting of C/O certificates with other ASEAN member states. Hopefully, with lessons learned in the trial period, by 2016, more import-export documents will be done online.

What are the benefits that enterprises will enjoy when the NSW is fully implemented?

I should say, MOIT is one of a few Vietnamese ministries having the most administrative procedures on import-export activities. That's why when the NSW is fully implemented, our workload will be reduced considerably. So is the workload for import-export enterprises. The NSW has three advantages, namely: data and information are presented once; processing information and data once and simultaneously; and making a decision once for the release and clearance of goods.

In your opinion, what are the challenges facing the enterprises when they apply the NSW?

C/O procedures are very diverse, particular the C/O (sample D) among the ASEAN states. At present, all enterprises want all other types of C/O will be done online, not only with the current 6 C/O categories as at present. The MOIT has taken this proposal into consideration and hopefully in a near future many more C/O types will be done online.

Will you please further elaborate on the future co-operation between the MOIT with the General Department of Viet Nam Customs to speed up the comprehensive implementation of the NSW?

Close co-ordination between the MOIT and the General Department of Viet Nam Customs will lay a firm foundation for the success of the NSW. We hope the smooth flow of information between the two agencies will help the connection between the MOIT and that of other ASEAN states be safe and sound. In a near future, we'll expand our co-operation with other ministries, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Health.

VNS