Promoting the tradition of building a comprehensively developed Customs sector

(Baonghean) - Nghe An Customs Department was established on May 19, 1956 under Decree No. 161/BTN-ND-TC of the Minister of Trade with the initial name of Nghe An Customs Branch. After 59 years of construction and development, along with the growth of Vietnam Customs, Nghe An Customs Department has continuously developed in all aspects, always excellently completing assigned tasks, meeting the requirements of political tasks, contributing to the cause of protecting national interests, sovereignty and security.

When it was first established, Nghe An Customs had only 25 people, operating in Nghe An and Ha Tinh with the task of carrying out procedures for imported and exported goods through Ben Thuy Port, Muong Xen Customs Department, actively fighting against smuggling across the border and inland. During the period of fighting against the destructive war of the American imperialists, officers and soldiers of Nghe An Customs implemented the "militarization" policy of the industry, each Customs officer was a soldier, with the slogan "All for the front line, all to defeat the American invaders", overcoming the rain of bombs and bullets, "sticking to ships, sticking to goods, sticking to border gates" to carry out procedures for imported and exported goods through Ben Thuy Port, Vinh Station and Nam Can Border Gate to support the battlefield.

In the midst of the war, Nghe An Customs officers and employees did not hesitate to endure hardships and sacrifices to fulfill their assigned tasks and closely coordinated with other sectors and levels, completing procedures and ensuring the safety of goods through border gates, while inspecting and handling hundreds of cases of smuggling and illegal transportation of goods. With these achievements, Nghe An Customs has been awarded the Excellent Emulation Flag and Certificate of Merit by the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Nghe An Provincial Administrative Committee and the Central Customs Department for many consecutive years. Ben Thuy Port Customs Station was awarded the Second Class Feat of Arms Medal by the President, and 57 officers and employees were awarded the Resistance Medal of various classes.

Headquarters of Nghe An Customs Department.

After the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country, Nghe An Customs was renamed Nghe - Tinh Customs Branch. The branch was supplemented with forces from military and police sources transferred to the branch, strengthening the border gates and anti-smuggling control teams. Thanks to that, during this time, tens of thousands of tons of trade goods were cleared through Nam Can Border Gate to support Laos. Machinery, equipment, fertilizer materials, gasoline, oil, and food were cleared at Ben Thuy Port and Cua Lo Port to serve economic development and people's lives. At the same time, export procedures were carried out for Nghe An's agricultural products.

Entering the renovation period, Nghe - Tinh Customs quickly transformed both in awareness and action, constantly improving political awareness, professional qualifications, legal knowledge, and foreign languages ​​for its staff and civil servants, in order to meet the increasingly high requirements of customs management, contributing to the successful implementation of the country's industrialization and modernization.

In June 1992, the General Department of Customs issued Decision No. 107/TCHQ-TCCB, on separating Nghe Tinh Customs into Nghe An Customs and Ha Tinh Customs. In 1994, the sector was officially renamed Nghe An Customs Department. During this time, the Customs sector implemented the Customs Ordinance issued by the State Council on February 20, 1990. The Customs Ordinance defined the functions of Vietnam Customs as: "State management of customs for export, import, exit, entry, transit of Vietnam, implementation of export and import tax policies and combating smuggling, illegal transportation of goods, foreign currency, and Vietnamese currency across the border".

To complete the assigned tasks, Nghe An Customs Department organized for cadres and civil servants to study and thoroughly grasp the Ordinance and documents guiding its implementation, with the motto of fundamental and thorough innovation, fighting against conservatism and stagnation, creating a change in professional work and force building. As a result, in the next 10 years of innovation, from 1991 to 2000, Nghe An Customs Department achieved outstanding achievements: The organizational structure was consolidated and perfected, the number and quality of cadres and civil servants were increased. Thanks to the innovation in operating methods, the turnover and import-export tax processed by Nghe An Customs Department in 2000 increased 10 times compared to 1991.

In recognition of its achievements, the Party and State awarded Nghe An Customs Department the Third Class Labor Medal, and many collectives and individuals were awarded medals and certificates of merit of various types by the State.

Comrade Chu Quang Luan, Party Secretary and Director of the Customs Department, awarded Certificates of Merit to enterprises with outstanding achievements in import and export.

In 2001, together with the whole industry, Nghe An Customs Department organized the implementation of the Customs Law passed by the National Assembly. To meet the new requirements and tasks, the unit has consolidated and rearranged the organization and staff, forming new organizations such as: Vinh Customs Branch, Post-clearance Inspection Branch, Administrative Finance Department, Drug Control Team, Inspection Department, Information Technology Department. In addition, it focused on improving customs technical skills, promoting administrative procedure reform, creating favorable conditions for people and businesses in import-export activities. Thanks to that, the province's import-export turnover increased rapidly.

After 59 years of construction and development, the organization of Nghe An Customs Department has now developed to include 14 affiliated units, including 6 staff offices, 5 branches, and 3 customs control teams. The Customs staff has grown in both quantity and quality. The quality of staff and civil servants has been constantly improved, 100% of managers have been systematically trained, have qualifications, and have the skills to operate modern management technology; The management staff has been continuously rejuvenated, has continued and promoted the traditions of previous generations of staff, contributing significantly to the success of Nghe An Provincial Customs Department and is ready to take on more difficult tasks in the coming time.

The work of building Party and mass organizations has been increasingly strengthened. The Party Committee has been recognized as a clean and strong Party Committee for many consecutive years. Customs technical expertise has been increasingly improved, meeting the requirements and tasks of customs work, including a strong shift in customs procedures, with the support of information technology; applying risk management in customs clearance. Therefore, the customs clearance time for import and export goods has been significantly reduced, facilitating import and export activities. In administrative procedure reform, the unit has relied on the operation of the Net.office program, a quality management system according to ISO standards to serve management and operation, which has been highly appreciated by leaders at all levels and the business community.

In recent years, Nghe An Customs Department has focused on coordination and cooperation, taking advantage of the direct direction and leadership of the Ministry of Finance, the General Department of Customs, the Provincial Party Committee, the People's Council and the People's Committee of Nghe An province to coordinate well with sectors in the internal affairs, economic and financial sectors, and cooperate with Xieng Khouang Customs and Customs Region II of Laos to excellently complete assigned tasks. With the achievements (from 2001 to 2010), Nghe An Customs Department has been awarded the Second Class Labor Medal (2001) and First Class (2006) by the State and many other noble awards. In particular, from 2010 to 2015, Nghe An Customs has made remarkable progress, in which administrative reform and customs modernization have created strong changes. Along with that, the industry has focused on directing the correct implementation of the State's policies and regimes related to export, import, and immigration activities.

Implementing strict customs procedures, fast clearance of goods and applying the electronic customs system VNACCS/VIS... With innovations in state management of customs, import-export turnover has increased rapidly. In 2011, import-export turnover reached 439.8 million USD, in 2013 it reached 501.3 million USD, in 2014 it was nearly 670 million USD and in the first 4 months of 2015 it was nearly 200 million USD. Along with that, Nghe An Customs has created a large source of revenue for the State, in 2012 it reached 605 billion VND, in 2014 it was more than 1,184 billion VND and in the first 4 months of 2015 it reached nearly 345 billion VND. With outstanding achievements in the period of 2010 - 2015, many collectives and individuals of Nghe An Customs sector were awarded many Certificates of Merit, Certificates of Merit, Third-class Labor Medals, etc. by the Party, State, ministries, branches and province.

In the coming years, implementing the strategy for customs modernization development until 2020 approved by the Prime Minister. Nghe An Customs Department identifies key tasks: Focus on building a plan for customs reform, development and modernization in line with the development strategy of the Customs sector. In which, focus on researching and building plans for border gates and non-border gates to meet the economic development requirements of the province to report to the Ministry of Finance and the General Department of Customs for approval. Build Nghe An Customs Department into a strong unit, with modern facilities, advanced technology, a team of cadres and civil servants with good professional expertise, political ethics to meet the increasingly high requirements of customs work in the area.

Do a good job of political and ideological work for cadres and civil servants, maintain solidarity, stability and long-term development, commit to seriously implementing the "Customer Service Declaration" with the motto "Professionalism - Transparency - Efficiency", enhance the image of customs cadres and civil servants in the business community, create trust for local Party committees and authorities. Strive to exceed the annual import-export tax collection target.

Do a good job of customs inspection and supervision to serve the policy of attracting and encouraging investment from domestic and foreign investors in the province. There are still many difficulties ahead, but under the leadership of the Party and the State, the direct management of the Ministry of Finance, the General Department of Customs, the Provincial Party Committee, the People's Committee of Nghe An province, the close and effective coordination of all levels, sectors and the support of the people, the business community, and enterprises, Nghe An Customs will excellently complete the assigned tasks.

Chu Quang Luan

(Party Secretary, Director of Customs Department)