In the coming period, instead of both the Ministry of Industry and Trade and local authorities jointly handling the issuance of certificates at the local level, the Ministry will cease issuing Certificates of Origin (C/O).

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has announced amendments and supplements to a series of administrative procedures in the import-export sector, focusing on simplifying processes and facilitating international trade activities for businesses. Notably, the review and revision target procedures related to the issuance of Certificates of Origin (C/O), one of the most critical requirements for exporters. The simplification of these procedures is expected to reduce both time and costs for enterprises.

According to the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, 31 out of 34 localities are currently independently issuing C/O certificates. Going forward, instead of a dual system involving both the Ministry and local authorities, the Ministry will stop issuing C/O certificates, allowing localities to take full responsibility for these procedures. The Ministry will also strengthen measures to ensure that the C/O issuance process becomes faster and more streamlined.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Son, Director General of the Import-Export Department, stated: “We will enhance the issuance of electronic C/Os. Currently, through the eCoSys system, 14 electronic C/O forms have been implemented. The Ministry has upgraded its software and servers for C/O declaration and issuance. We also encourage enterprises to adopt self-certification of origin.”

Export enterprises have expressed support for the Ministry’s efforts, noting that decentralizing procedures to local authorities will help reduce travel costs, waiting time, and the need for repeated documentation, thereby enabling faster delivery. However, businesses also recommend stronger coordination and standardization among relevant agencies to ensure smoother customs clearance processes.

Mr. Nguyen Kim Hung, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, commented: “One of the most important tasks is to synchronize the national database across localities, ministries, and agencies. Without synchronization, although import-export is managed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, taxation and customs fall under the Ministry of Finance, and food safety is managed by the Ministry of Health. This lack of integration forces businesses to work with multiple agencies for a single procedure and wait for multiple processes.”

In addition to simplifying and decentralizing export procedures, the Ministry of Industry and Trade reduced the C/O issuance fee from VND 60,000 to VND 30,000 in 2025. The Ministry plans to further reduce these fees this year to help businesses optimize costs amid ongoing market volatility.

Source: VTV.vn