An opportunity to share experiences and approach new technology trends and best practices

Nguyen Thi Viet Nga, Deputy director of the Customs International Cooperation Department:

In your opinion, the 2023 WCO Technology Conference and Exhibition is a major and global-scale event hosted by Vietnam Customs for the first time. Could tell us about the meaning and scale of this event?

Every year, the World Customs Organization has provided a theme for Customs member administrations to have a common message for the WCO members. The message in 2023 is “Nurturing the Next Generation: Promoting a Culture of Knowledge-sharing and Professional Pride in Customs”. Therefore, the keyword of the message is the application of technology and digital transformation to promote the human factor, which is the key factor and focuses on nurturing the next generation, aiming for sustainable development.

I think there is quite new content that will attract participants to the conference and exhibition. Discussion sessions as well as the tech talks at the conference and exhibition will open up an opportunity for cooperation and connection between parties involved in the international trade supply chain, including Customs authorities, other border agencies, technology providers, the business community, international organizations to facilitate trade while ensuring effectively control legitimate trade flows.

Vietnam Customs is one of the first countries in ASEAN to host the WCO annual event. This shows the active role and responsibility in multilateral and bilateral cooperation within the WCO framework. I think that the theme of the year’s conference is consistent with the Customs Development Strategy, especially the goal of building digital customs and smart customs. At this conference, we will have an opportunity to share experiences and approach new technology trends and best practices, as well as to introduce Vietnam Customs’ great efforts in customs reform and modernization, application of the latest technology, and customs control and supervision”.

What opportunities will the 2023 WCO technology conference and exhibition bring for Vietnamese businesses to introduce new technologies in Customs such as screening technology, artificial intelligence (AI) integration, cybersecurity technology, blockchain technology through booths at the exhibition?

The conference has about 50 exhibition booths for businesses sponsoring the conference, mainly foreign business exhibitions. Among them, there are some big and well-known companies, such as S2 Global; Accenture, Leidos, Webb Fontaine, Microsoft; Cargo X, Cargoes, Crimson Logic, GTS, GUUD International, Nexyte, NucTech, Publican, Rapiscan, Smiths Detection. Vietnamese businesses including Viettel, VNPT, CMC, Vinfast, EDTC, Intel, Samsung, and Saigon Newport Corporation are companies with technological developments, however, to inform the technology application of these companies for customs authorities. Thus, it means that Vietnamese businesses will have opportunities to meet international businesses to work together and provide technology solutions to Customs authorities.

Besides the cooperation within the world customs framework, how does Vietnam Customs promote cooperation with customs administrations of advanced countries in customs reform and modernization? And could tell us more about these outstanding achievements?

In multilateral cooperation, Vietnam Customs not only actively cooperates with the World Customs Organization but also coordinates with ASEAN member states and other organizations such as GMS and APEC.

In bilateral cooperation, the assistance of Customs agencies of advanced countries to help Vietnam Customs in the customs modernization process plays an important role. Besides the assistance from multilateral organizations such as the OECD, the support from Customs administrations such as Japan, the US, the UK, and China in the first stage and pilot programs to Vietnam Customs is extremely valuable. Especially, Japan Customs not only gives strong support in terms of machinery technology, and capacity building to Vietnam Customs but also assists in training thousands of customs officers to access and use of modern technology in key phases of customs reform and modernization.

In addition, 2019 marked a milestone in the US Customs and Vietnam Customs ties at a new level with the signing of the Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement between the US Government and Vietnam Government. Currently, the US Customs is the only agency that has signed a government-level agreement in the Customs area with Vietnam Customs.

In addition to the US, Korea Customs has shared technologies that the regulator has applied to the process of digital transformation and customs supervision and inspection. The Korea Customs has connected and exchanged e-C/O with Vietnam Customs aiming to facilitate international trade. Australian Customs has assisted Vietnam Customs in sharing experiences in applying technology and training for Customs officers.

First, I think that the highlight of cooperation programs with advanced customs partners helps us approach equipment and technology. Second, it trains Vietnam Customs officers to be in tandem with the environment that we need to nurture the next generation. The third is to share information in a timely manner to prevent smuggling cases or violations of customs laws. Third, it shares information in a timely fashion to prevent smuggling or customs offenses.

The large-scale organization, the 2023 WCO annual technology conference and exhibition is attracting the attention of ministries, Central agencies, businesses, and especially the technology businesses in Vietnam. So, according to you, from the perspective of promoting the country's image and with the large number of delegates expected to attend the conference, is the conference an opportunity for us to introduce and promote to international friends across five continents about scenic spots in Hanoi and Vietnam?

Within the framework of the WCO Technology Conference and Exhibition, we will introduce a video clip about Vietnam's scenic spots and Vietnamese cuisines. International friends will have a very interesting time in Vietnam. In the program of the conference and exhibition, Vietnam Customs also arranged tours to some scenic spots in Hanoi. I think Vietnam is a very interesting place that international friends really want to visit.

Thank you, Madam!