(VOVWORLD) - Since the beginning of the year, export and import, particularly of agricultural and fishery products through the Mong Cai border gate in Quang Ninh province, has increased sharply. It’s an encouraging sign at a time when many other sectors are suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 Hai Yen floating bridge on Ka Long river connects Mong Cai city, Vietnam and Dong Xing, China (photo: baoquangninh.com.vn) |
In the first quarter the Hai Yen floating bridge has been continuously crowded with trucks hauling commodities from many agro-forestry hubs.
Le Huu Dung of the International Coal Company said: “We aren’t seeing any problems in export and import procedures. The volume of commodities through the border gate has increased. In the past there were about 70 to 80 trucks a day. That has increased to about 110 trucks a day recently – up to 160 trucks on peak days, depending on how quick customs procedures are on the Chinese side.”
In March, over 8,500 vehicles carried a total of 500,000 tons of goods through the Bac Luan II and Hải Yên floating bridge border gates, three times higher more than in the previous year. The commodities are mainly cassava powder, fisheries, grains, and fruits.
Ngo Quang Vinh, head of the customs monitoring team No.2 at the Mong Cai International Border Gate, says IT applications have improved customs clearance.
“Customs procedures and commodities declaration instructions are posted on our website and other media. Businesses can register online. It takes only 2 or 3 minutes. We categorize goods into green, yellow, and red flows. On green and yellow flows, businesses show goods and declaration forms. We don’t closely check the commodities. Every day we license about 100 trucks to cross the Hai Yen floating bridge,” Vinh said.
Do Van Tuan, Vice Chairman of the Mong Cai city People’s Committee, said: “We regularly talk on the phone with authorities in Dong Xing, China to resolve problems – for instance, extending the customs clearance time or allowing more Vietnamese agricultural and fishery commodities to enter to China.”
The Prime Minister has approved the Mong Cai International Border Gate Economic Zone Planning until 2040. Under the plan Quang Ninh province will call for investors to make the Mong Cai border gate a northern economic hub.