The People’s Committee of the central province of Quang Tri held ameeting on December 2 to discuss ways to accelerate the implementationof the “one-stop shop” model at its international border gate Lao Baoand the Lao counterpart Densavan.
Vietnam and Laos inked amemorandum of understanding on the implementation of the “one-stop shop”model at the Lao Bao-Desavan border gates in 2005 in line with anagreement on facilitating people’s travel and goods transport acrossborder signed by countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS).
Underthe MoU, the model would be deployed in four steps, starting withone-stop shop customs check for goods, then expanding to the process ofall customs procedures and examination. Next the model would also coverquarantine and health checks and finally be completed with the inclusionof migration control.
In 2012, the countries agreed to take ashort cut from step one to step four, but little progress was made inrealising the model due to a lack of relevant official documents and amismatch between regulations of the two sides. The incompleteinfrastructure at the two border gates also hindered the implementation.
Therefore, Vietnam and Laos held a meeting at deputy foreignminister level over this issue in February 2014 and agreed to strive tobegin a trial run of the “one stop shop” model at Lao Bao border gate onJanuary 1, 2015. To this goal, the two sides have worked out a detailedroadmap and set up a special joint working group to coordinate thepreparations.
According to Chairman of the Quang Tri People’sCommittee Nguyen Duc Chinh, the two sides have signed agreements tocreate a legal framework for coordinating checking procedures andpersonnel at the border gates. The two sides have so far fulfilled 8 outof 11 items on the working agenda in legal and procedural terms. TheVietnamese Prime Minister has also approved funding for equipmentprocurement, allowing Quang Tri to renovate working facilities for jointchecks at Lao Bao border gate, Chinh said, adding that the Lao side hasalso upgraded offices and asked Vietnam to help with purchasingequipment.
In the coming time, the two sides will continue towork on several remaining issues including harmonising health quarantineprocedures and customs declaration forms, addressing the shortage ofpersonnel, and upgrading infrastructure in order for the “one stop shop”model at Lao Bao to be launched as scheduled, the official noted.-VNA
Vietnam and Laos inked amemorandum of understanding on the implementation of the “one-stop shop”model at the Lao Bao-Desavan border gates in 2005 in line with anagreement on facilitating people’s travel and goods transport acrossborder signed by countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS).
Underthe MoU, the model would be deployed in four steps, starting withone-stop shop customs check for goods, then expanding to the process ofall customs procedures and examination. Next the model would also coverquarantine and health checks and finally be completed with the inclusionof migration control.
In 2012, the countries agreed to take ashort cut from step one to step four, but little progress was made inrealising the model due to a lack of relevant official documents and amismatch between regulations of the two sides. The incompleteinfrastructure at the two border gates also hindered the implementation.
Therefore, Vietnam and Laos held a meeting at deputy foreignminister level over this issue in February 2014 and agreed to strive tobegin a trial run of the “one stop shop” model at Lao Bao border gate onJanuary 1, 2015. To this goal, the two sides have worked out a detailedroadmap and set up a special joint working group to coordinate thepreparations.
According to Chairman of the Quang Tri People’sCommittee Nguyen Duc Chinh, the two sides have signed agreements tocreate a legal framework for coordinating checking procedures andpersonnel at the border gates. The two sides have so far fulfilled 8 outof 11 items on the working agenda in legal and procedural terms. TheVietnamese Prime Minister has also approved funding for equipmentprocurement, allowing Quang Tri to renovate working facilities for jointchecks at Lao Bao border gate, Chinh said, adding that the Lao side hasalso upgraded offices and asked Vietnam to help with purchasingequipment.
In the coming time, the two sides will continue towork on several remaining issues including harmonising health quarantineprocedures and customs declaration forms, addressing the shortage ofpersonnel, and upgrading infrastructure in order for the “one stop shop”model at Lao Bao to be launched as scheduled, the official noted.-VNA
