Nghe An Customs: Building a streamlined, modern, highly efficient apparatus

Established on May 19, 1956, the predecessor was Nghe An Customs Branch. During its operation, Nghe An Customs has always received attention and direction from the Ministry of Finance, General Department of Customs; Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee of Nghe An province, and performed well the management of Customs in assigned areas.

To meet the requirements of innovation, development and implementation of Decision No. 1919/QD-BTC dated September 6, 2016 of the Minister of Finance, the apparatus of Nghe An Provincial Customs Department has been streamlined, currently consisting of 5 staff offices assisting the Director, 5 Customs Sub-Departments at border gates and outside border gates, and 2 control teams.

Nghe An Customs received the Excellent Emulation Unit Flag from the Finance sector. Photo: Hoang Vinh

To improve work efficiency and meet the increasing requirements of customs work, Nghe An Customs Department actively reformed the administrative system and modernized the Customs sector in conjunction with strengthening Party building and rectification; preventing and repelling the degradation of political ideology, ethics, lifestyle, manifestations of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" within the organization; and implementing innovation and reorganization of the political system to be streamlined and operate effectively and efficiently.

At the same time, streamlining the payroll and restructuring the staff, civil servants and public employees; the Department has issued a Project to streamline the payroll for the period 2016 - 2021, accordingly, by 2021, it is guaranteed to reduce 10% of the current number of employees.

In 2015, Nghe An Customs had 14 subordinate and affiliated units after restructuring the organizational structure, leaving 12 subordinate and affiliated units. Together with the entire Customs sector, Nghe An Provincial Customs Department reviewed and proposed restructuring the organizational structure at the Team and Group levels at the subordinate units and after restructuring the organizational structure, the number of leaders at the Team/Group level was reduced from 33 to 19.

Checking import and export goods at Cua Lo Port. Photo: Hoang Vinh

Recently, Nghe An Customs has implemented the ranking of newly recruited civil servants, 20 civil servants transferred to other sectors, promoted the rank of chief customs inspector for 17 civil servants, promoted the rank of customs inspector for 5 civil servants. Based on the staffing quota allocated by the General Department of Customs, Nghe An Customs Department has proactively arranged and assigned civil servants in accordance with their functions, tasks, and job positions, promoting their expertise and strengths in performing their work.

In addition, the Party Committee of the Department participates with the collective leadership of Nghe An Customs Department to unify the direction of personnel organization work according to regulations and rules. Gradually perfect and arrange the organizational apparatus, plan, train and foster civil servants, appoint, dismiss, transfer, rotate, reward and discipline in accordance with their functions and powers. The Party Committee and leadership of the Customs Department create all conditions for mass organizations to operate and promote their roles in implementing emulation movements.

Nghe An Customs seizes smuggled goods. Photo: HV

From 2015 to present, the Customs Department has appointed 20 civil servants to leadership positions and reappointed 9 civil servants to leadership positions. All cases of reappointed leadership civil servants have met the time requirements as prescribed. In addition, the Customs Department has also done a good job of rotation, rotation, job transfer, and assignment according to task requirements to avoid the situation of civil servants doing one job, in one position for a long time, preventing negative behavior...

The Department regularly implements administrative reform, modernizes Customs, prevents corruption, and builds a clean and strong customs force. Each civil servant always raises vigilance, promotes personal responsibility, strictly maintains administrative discipline when performing official duties, creating favorable and quick conditions for import and export of goods, entry and exit of people and vehicles, without causing trouble, harassment, or negativity to businesses and people. At the same time, coordinate with forces to strengthen control and prevention of smuggling and trade in prohibited goods.

Nghe An Customs Department guides businesses to carry out customs procedures via the VNACCSVCIS system. Photo: Hoang Vinh

Nghe An Customs Department has issued management solutions suitable to the actual situation, aiming to facilitate trade and investment activities in the area, increase import and export turnover, and increase budget revenue.

2018: The total number of enterprises participating in customs procedures through the Department was 294, an increase of 35 enterprises compared to the same period in 2017 (259 enterprises); The total number of declarations registered for procedures was 21,150 declarations (TK), an increase of 19.5% compared to the same period in 2017 (17,692 TK); Import-export turnover reached 1,346 million USD, an increase of 26.7% compared to the same period in 2017 (1,062 million USD); The total number of vehicles entering and exiting the country in 2018 was 9,683, a decrease of 3.2% compared to 2017 (10,002). In the first 5 months of 2019, the import-export turnover reached 520 million USD. Budget revenue from import-export activities reached 630 billion VND, completing 37.6% of the assigned target (1,700 billion VND).

During the development process, Nghe An Customs Department has achieved many outstanding achievements and has been awarded by the Party and State: 1 First Class Labor Medal, 1 Second Class Labor Medal, 2 Third Class Labor Medals, 1 Military Exploit Medal and many other noble awards.