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Single window customs system to facilitate import-export

The government will introduce a single window customs system in the coming weeks to facilitate import and export procedures, which it is envisaged will help to improve the overall business environment.
Vehicle importers will be the first group to benefit from the Lao National Single Window (LNSW), the Ministry of Finance said in its Decision.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Somdy Duangdy issued the Decision recently. It will come into effect on February 20, 15 days after being published in the Lao Official Gazette.
The electronic system, which replaces the previous document system, is expected to shorten the time taken to complete the procedure and be more transparent.
In the Decision, Mr Somdy suggested that authorities in charge initially implement the system at the international border checkpoint at the first Laos-Thai Friendship Bridge connecting Vientiane to Thailand’s Nong Khai province.
He told the relevant state departments to issue instructions and simplify procedures to ensure the new system operated smoothly.
Authorities in charge were told to learn from their experience before the system is introduced at other international border crossings around the country.
“We will review the process and consider the lessons learnt during the first three months of operation before expanding the system to other checkpoints,” a senior official with the ministry’s Customs Department, who asked not to be named, told Vientiane Times yesterday.
“Right now vehicle importers will benefit from the system. Next we plan to include fuel importers and then importers and exporters of other goods.”
The Decision states that importers and exporters must pay tariffs, taxes, fees, service charges and any other fees through the LNSW at border crossings where goods are imported or exported.
The LNSW has been integrated with the electronic customs declaration system, known as ASYCUDA, and the Smart Tax system. The company that has developed the LNSW will charge a service fee of 120,000 per service [customs declaration via the LNSW].
The Customs Department official said the introduction of the LNSW, which facilitates trade, is part of implementing Prime Minister’s Order No. 2, which aims to improve the business environment. Early last year, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith issued the Order to streamline procedures and coordinate mechanisms to facilitate business operations.
It aims to bolster the government’s efforts to improve Laos’ ease-of-doing-business ranking as assessed by the World Bank from the current 154th place to a ranking that has only two digits.
Prime Minister Thongloun has instructed ministries, and other bodies responsible for the 11 indicators used by the World Bank to assess the ranking, to take thorough action to improve their performance and the business environment.
The government is also introducing electronic systems to collect tariffs, taxes and other forms of revenue in an attempt to close loopholes and prevent revenue leaks.

By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
(Latest Update February 7, 2019)


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