Businesses should stay vigilant when importing and exporting

Vietnam Agriculture News has invited two guests today. It’s our pleasure to introduce Mr. Hoang Khanh Duy, Deputy Head of the Management Board of Dong Dang - Lang Son border gate economic zone and Mr. Pham Thanh Cam, Deputy Director of Sub-department of Customs of Huu Nghi Border Gate to share some recommendtions when exporting agro-products to China, since It is expected that in the last months of this year there would be many important steps in the import-export scene.

Dear Mr. Hoang Anh Duy, what recommendations does the Management Board of Dong Dang - Lang Son border gate economic zone have for enterprises and people to secure both trade and food safety, which are what the Chinese side pays close attention to?

In order to maintain and promote export through border gates in Lang Son, thus meet the demand of enterprises, organizations and individuals, especially at the end of the year, and avoid causing unnecessary damage to businesses, the Management Board of Dong Dang - Lang Son border gate economic zone shared some recommendations.

Firstly, localities that have fruits or agro-products for export should direct to strengthen supervision and management and provide guidance to enterprises to ensure that product quality, harvesting, packaging, preservation, transportation of goods are carried out in accordance with regulations and requirements of the import market.

Secondly, it is advised to closely monitor for fruits preserved in cold containers during transport to minimize the risk of infection of the virus SARS-CoV-2 on frozen product packaging.

Thirdly, the Management Board will disseminate information to enterprises, goods owners of localities to proactively research and grasp the situation of goods importing and exporting through border gates in Lang Son. The situation can be studied through the information portal of the Management Board of Dong Dang - Lang Son border gate economic zone or the website of the Department of Industry and Trade to devise a plan to bring goods to the border gate area in appropriate quantity. The goal is to guarantee their own production and business efficiency, avoid congestion at the border gate area, and limit the incurrence of damage.

As for businesses and traders exporting fruits and agro-products, we would also wish to give some advice.

Firstly, we recommend businesses research and then organize implementation to transform production and export methods in a more official and professional form. The goal is to avoid incurring problems or civil disputes with Chinese enterprises which may result in unnecessary damage. At the same time, businesses should focus on standardization and synchronization in terms of product quality, packaging, label, requirements of food safety, traceability, pandemic prevention.

Secondly, it is deemed essential to proactively follow and regularly update on yard capacity, customs clearance speed, operation situation at border gates in Lang Son, avoid the case of bringing goods to the road border gates of Lang Son province specifically fresh fruits and agro-products, thus minimizing economic losses. This is extremely important in the context that the peak period at the end of the year is coming near.

Thirdly, right at the step of making a carriage contract for goods such as fruits and agro-products, truck owners must clearly specify the information of transportation method, delivery time and location, carrier, freight rates and charges. it is vital that when delivering the goods at the border gate, truck owners must have a handover record and sign to confirm the quantity and quality of goods, specific payment method before letting the truck exit to China in order to ensure legitimate rights and interests when exporting agro-products, avoid making a vague, generic verbal agreement or letting export service prices into freight rates which may lead to lack of transparency in revenue and expenditure and being taken advantage of by subjects.

It is known that the customs sector has been promoting administrative reform, and there is one content that captures the interest of businesses and people. They wish to know what the procedures are when bringing the goods to the border. So, dear Mr. Pham Thanh Cam, during the peak months at the end of the year, what guidance and communication activities do the Sub-department of Customs of Huu Nghi Border Gate have to help businesses and people reduce and simplify administrative procedures?

The Sub-department of Customs of Huu Nghi Border Gate has advised businesses first carefully to research the China market for Vietnamese agro-product exports. They should learn more about their purchasing partners on the Chinese side and then choose those that are capable. Contract signing should be done with careful consideration. We have also recommended enterprises in the country when bringing the goods to the border gate, must declare all information on the digital platform, at the same time keep close contact with consignee partners at the Huu Nghi border gate, avoiding cases of not having consignee partners which cause congestion at the border gate.

Thank you for having an interview with Vietnam Agriculture News!