Import and export firms will begin phasing in the use of digitalsignatures for the e-customs system this year, according to the VietnamGeneral Department of Customs (VGDC).

The moveforms part of the implementation of Decree 87/2012 that regulatescommercial importers and exporters using e-signatures for e-customsprocedures.

Director of the VGDC's Customs InformationTechnology and Statistics Department Nguyen Manh Tung said that digitalsignatures would help improve security and safety for enterprises ine-customs procedures.

Tung told a press conference on October24 that using digital signatures in e-customs will benefit bothcommercial importers, exporters and the customs sector. "It is creatingfavourable conditions for commercial importers and exporters," he said.

He added that the sector has asked the finance ministry toallow enterprises without digital signatures after the Novemberdeadline, to perform customs procedures.

The customs sectoris also working with relevant agencies to provide information andtraining on digital signature procedures nation-wide.

A VGDCrepresentative said that the department had accepted digital signaturesprovided by e-signature service providers licenced by the Ministry ofInformation and Communications, including FPT, BKAV, VNPT-CA, Nacencom,CK-CA, Safe-CA, Viettel-CA and SmartSign.
 
Customs sectorstatistics also showed that more than 40,000 import and exportenterprises this year were using e-customs procedures in 34 customsdepartments nationwide. Around 3,000 enterprises have registered digitalsignatures for e-customs.

By mid-November, the customssector will pilot run a new system, called the Vietnam Automated Cargoand Port Consolidated System and the Vietnam Customs Information System(VNACCS/VCIS,) that requires digital signature for procedures.

The system is scheduled to be put into operation nationwide in April next year.-VNA