Mr. Dao Nghia Dong - Deputy Head of the Cau Treo International Border Gate Customs Branch - said that there is less than a month left until the end of 2024, but up to this point, the unit has only collected more than 190 billion VND in budget revenue. Meanwhile, the assigned target for 2024 is 550 billion VND.
In 2023, the Cau Treo International Border Gate Customs Branch was assigned to collect 510 billion VND in budget revenue, and the unit exceeded the assigned target. That was also the basis for the superiors to assign the 2024 collection target of 550 billion VND. However, this year, the collection results were low.
With little time left, whether the budget collection results will meet the assigned target or not, Mr. Dong said, he will try his best, but it will be very difficult.
According to Mr. Dong, there are many reasons why the unit's budget collection in 2024 is low. That is, the Deo Dat Pass in Laos has been eroded since August 2023, but the repair work is still slow, making it difficult for vehicles to travel, and many vehicles carrying goods have switched to customs clearance at Cha Lo Border Gate (Quang Binh).
“Energy drinks have long been a staple item cleared through Cau Treo Border Gate, but in 2024, they will mainly be imported through Cha Lo Border Gate, causing our budget collection to be low,” Mr. Dong shared.
Mr. Dong added that Road 8 in Laos used to be a national highway but has now been converted to a provincial road, so according to regulations, vehicles transporting goods through this route (near Cau Treo Border Gate) must carry 7-8 tons less per trip, causing many businesses to choose other routes, so they rarely return through Cau Treo Border Gate.
In addition, the ore mine in Laos was previously near Cau Treo border gate, so businesses exploited, purchased, and transported it through Cau Treo border gate, but now the new ore mine is mainly near La Lay border gate (Quang Tri), so transportation activities mainly go through La Lay border gate.
Recently, National Highway 8A from Cau Treo Border Gate to Tay Son town (Huong Son) has been under construction for an upgrade and expansion project, so the construction has affected traffic, causing concern for businesses when transporting goods through Cau Treo Border Gate.
Mr. Dong also shared that currently, Cau Treo International Border Gate does not have a cargo inspection area, which is also a difficulty for the unit when performing its tasks.
“To increase budget revenue, we have and will continue to strengthen propaganda and mobilize businesses to transport goods through Cau Treo Border Gate. We will create favorable conditions for quick procedure settlement through strengthening administrative reform and simplifying records and procedures.
At the same time, we also recommend that Laos promptly fix the landslide on Deo Dat Pass, and request that the project to upgrade and expand National Highway 8A in Ha Tinh be completed soon to facilitate traffic," Mr. Dong shared.
