HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The Ministry of Industry and Trade began a pilot project on May 14 to issue online certificates of origin (C/O) for export companies.

Management systems and online certificates are part of the online public services offered by the ministry. After logging into the system at www.ecosys.gov.vn, enterprises will declare those goods in need for C/O issuance to export-import management offices.

The system also allows for the reviewing and providing feedback to enterprises before they bring their original documents for comparison at places of C/O issuance. This contributes to decreasing the time for examination and issuance of documents.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Deputy Minister Tran Tuan Anh reiterated that C/O issuance through the Internet was a crucial step by the ministry to bring convenience to those conducting trade activities. He noted that that online services contribute to improving the business environment, decreasing the time and costs for firms, and ensuring transparency that would raise the nation's ability to compete.

The Deputy Minister said that in the future, the ministry would cooperate with other ministries and governmental agencies to continue their implementation of a national one-stop system of other administrative procedures by the ministry.

According to a report of the ministry's Import-Export Department, in the past enterprises that wished to apply for a C/O had to bring all required documents to import-export management offices for examination. It took one day to complete the C/O issuance process, if firms had all the required documents. However, if there was any additional paperwork needed, the businesses had to return and repeat the procedure.

Earlier, the ministry and General Department of Vietnam Customs implemented a national one-stop mechanism. C/O issuance agencies would access the department's data to review online customs declarations to issue a C/O for goods being exported to ASEAN countries.

The ministry is now proposing that the customs department allow C/O issuance agencies to gain access to online data on commercial and transport invoices so enterprises do not need to repeatedly submit these documents.