At the launching ceremony (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - A trade facilitation programme worth over 21.7 million USD fundedby the United States Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID) was launched in Hanoi on July 10.
The project will be performed in five years, aiming to reform,standardize, harmonize and simplify administrative procedures in terms ofimport and export, in accordance with international standards, towards implementingthe Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of the World Trade Organisation.
Theimplementation strategy of the project will be at the central to the provinciallevel, focusing on strengthening coordination among ministries; supportingpolicy reforms on trade facilitation and implementation of TFA; cutting specializedinspection procedures; and promoting partnership with the private sector.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue highlighted thesignificance of the project, saying that it meets requirements and desire ofthe Vietnamese Government in implementing the TFA and other new-generation freetrade agreements.
Underthe direction of the Government, the Ministry of Finance presided over andcoordinated with ministries and branches to implement the national one-stop-shopmechanism, which is connected to those of five ASEAN member nations, he noted.
US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J. Kritenbrink said the US administration willcoordinate with the Vietnamese side in implementing the project, thus harmonizing and simplifying specializedinspection procedures.
He stressed that US businesses always consider Vietnam an attractive investmentdestination, so the US wishes to maintain effective partnership with Vietnam’s Ministryof Finance and General Department of Customs, as well as other partners andbusiness communities, in order to make it easy for sustainable growth inVietnam.
Vice Director of General Department of Customs Mai Xuan Thanh said the agencyhas paid attention to streamlining its organisation apparatus, reforming workingmethods, and improving labour productivity.
He pledged that the customs sector would focus all resources to work with USAIDto effectively perform the programme.-VNA
VNA
