GDCE director-general Kun Nhim (right) and his Vietnamese counterpart at the MoU signing ceremony in Siem Reap on November 15. PHOTO SUPPLIED
The General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia (GDCE) and the General Department of Vietnam Customs have agreed to strengthen administrative customs cooperation between the two nations to facilitate trade, collect revenue and prevent tax evasion.
The agreement came at a November 15 bilateral meeting between GDCE director-general Kun Nhim, and his Vietnamese counterpart, director-general Nguyen Van Can.
Nhim said the two customs administrations had shared information on the performance of their respective units, focusing on the collection of tariffs and taxes, trade facilitation and the prevention and suppression of activities which sought to circumvent customs’ operations.
He added that both sides spoke highly of the cooperation between them, and of the excellent progress that was being made in implementing a recent Memorandum of Understanding between the two administrations.
Kun Nhim briefed the Vietnamese delegation on the key outcomes of recent meetings, with a particular focus on the outcome of bilateral meetings between the leaders of the two countries as well as the recent Cambodia-Vietnam Investment and Trade Promotion Forum.
Van Can said that following the talks, the two administrations had agreed to further improve and develop cooperation on the prevention of contraband goods, tax evasion and illegal cross-border transport.
They implemented joint operations and strengthened focal point mechanisms to exchange information both at the general department level and on the border, he added.
“We have streamlined the export and import process to promote trade facilitation between the two countries. We have agreed to maximise the transport of goods via Vietnam to Cambodia under the principles of legal trade flow and the prevention of illegal customs offences,” he said.
He added that both parties were continuing to coordinate with their respective ministries and institutions to study the feasibility of implementing a joint inspection mechanism at the Bavet international border crossing at Moc Bai, Vietnam.
Both sides agreed to assign IT officials to work together to develop an information technology system for the online exchange of information on the identity of transit goods – and their means of transportation.
In addition, they will organise exchange visits, which will enhance friendly cooperation while providing an opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences.
