Seminar seeks solutions to boost Vietnam’s trade facilitation capacity
To ensure the implementation of the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), Vietnam needs an effective inter-agency coordination mechanism for administrative reform, experts said at a TFA seminar held in Ho Chi Minh City on March 29.
HCM City (VNA) – To ensure the implementationof the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), Vietnam needs an effectiveinter-agency coordination mechanism for administrative reform, experts said ata TFA seminar held in Ho Chi Minh City on March 29.
Highlighting the far-reaching impacts theFTA has on more than 100 WTO members, Director of the Vietnam GeneralDepartment of Customs’ International Cooperation Department Nguyen Toan said beforeand after Vietnam taking part in the pact, the customs body has carried outseveral shakeups with sound outcomes.
However, the country has yet to fulfill itsFTA commitments due to various reasons, one of which was the overload of workfor the customs sector while it has limited power and personnel.
External factors, such as frequently changingrequirements for supply chains, production methods, transport and trade, havealso created difficulties to Vietnam’s import-export procedures, Toan added.
Au Anh Tuan, deputy director of theSupervision and Control Department at the General Department of Customs, saidthere is a gap between regulations and their implementation in Vietnam, notingthat while the country’s legal documents and regulations are basicallycompatible with TFA standards but their implementation fails to matchrequirements.
He attributed the problem to human causes,including limited competence and vested interest, and suggested administrativereform to facilitate trade must go hand in hand with boosting personnelcapacity and balancing benefits among groups.
Sharing the same view, Pham Minh Duc, a WorldBank senior economic expert, pointed to the fact that administrative proceduresfor granting licences, sector verification, and border trade management consume76 percent of the total time for import-export –related work, while the time forgoods examination and customs clearance accounts for only 19 percent.
The fact means customs procedure reformalone is not enough to improve trade facilitation activities in Vietnam, henoted, adding that the involvement of both state agencies and businesses in theprocess is needed.
The FTA took effect on February 22,expecting to cut 14.3 percent of trade costs and increase global trade by up to1 trillion USD each year.-VNA
The implementation of the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement was a focus of discussions at the on-going UN high-level meeting on improving cooperation on transit and trade facilitationi.
Vietnam actively contributed to common efforts of the international community at the UN High-Level Meeting for the Euro-Asia Region on Improving Cooperation on Transit, Trade Facilitation.
Developed with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Da Nang FTZ is designed to become a leading regional economic centre and a strategic growth pole in Vietnam’s new development landscape.
The Binh Duong Association of Supporting Industries (BASI) is expected to promote the usage of domestically manufactured components while supporting businesses in accessing international markets, strengthening linkages, and promoting deeper integration into global supply chains.
PwC Vietnam forecasts a vibrant M&A market in Vietnam’s healthcare sector in 2025, driven by rising demand for high-quality medical services and a growing middle class. Pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals, and specialised medical facilities, particularly in ophthalmology and oncology, are predicted to be key targets for M&A.
The central province of Quang Nam is set to become a hub for the medicinal plant industry, with Ngoc Linh ginseng designated as the core crop, under the Prime Minister's decision issued earlier this year.
The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Illustrative image (Source: VNA) 
