Removing difficulties for import and export through Dong Dang International Railway Station border gate

Customs officers at Dong Dang International Railway Station, Lang Son province control the types of goods cleared through the station border gate. (Photo: Quang Duy/TTXVN)

Dong Dang International Railway Station border gate is located in Dong Dang town, Lang Son province , located in the Dong Dang-Lang Son border gate economic zone with an area of about 56,000 square meters, including the central area, station square, and meeting room. railway station, railway station, chemical field... This is a particularly important station connecting with China and is the last station of the Gia Lam (Hanoi)-Dong Dang railway.

However, due to construction investment since the 1990s, up to now Dong Dang station border gate infrastructure has degraded, unable to meet the needs and import and export activities of goods. That has significantly affected the operating capacity of the station as well as border trade activities through this border gate.

Barriers

In 2022, when a number of road border gates in Lang Son province as well as across the country temporarily suspend import-export activities due to border trade policies, at Dong Dang International Railway Station border gate, customs clearance activities will take place. Merchandise was extremely exciting.

Statistics from Dong Dang International Railway Station Customs Branch show that in 2022, the import-export turnover of all types of goods through Dong Dang station border gate will reach over 289.5 million USD; Total import and export tax revenue reached over 463 billion VND, exceeding 226% of the plan assigned for the year and increasing 70% compared to 2021.

However, customs clearance through Dong Dang International Railway Station border gate is chosen by businesses only as a temporary solution while road border gates are temporarily closed.

By the end of the third quarter of 2023, the amount of imported and exported goods of all types has decreased with a turnover of about 87.2 million USD; Total import and export tax revenue reached nearly 105 billion VND, only 29% of the year's assigned plan and down 73% compared to 2022.

Representing the business that previously operated import and export activities through Dong Dang International Railway Station border gate, Ms. Duong Thu Huong, Tien Khanh Import-Export Company Limited, said that although importing and exporting goods by road Iron has advantages such as a smooth transportation process and lower shipping costs compared to other types of transportation... but through exchanges with a number of other businesses, most have shifted to import and export. at land border gates because land border gates are the traditional choice. On the other hand, Dong Dang station border gate currently does not fully meet the conditions for infrastructure as well as logistics services for businesses.

Deputy Director of the Customs Branch of Dong Dang International Railway Station, Lang Son Province, Mo Hoang Dai, said that the unit still regularly organizes dialogues and meetings with businesses to grasp difficulties and problems in a timely manner. solving to create favorable conditions for import-export businesses through the area, attracting and retaining businesses. However, the major barrier here is still mainly due to the station's infrastructure not meeting the development needs of import-export activities.

Through research, currently at Dong Dang International Railway Station border gate there is only one place for goods inspection and supervision, which is the chemical yard managed and operated by Dong Dang Station Branch; This chemical yard is not a warehouse, the location was invested and built by the enterprise and recognized by the General Department of Customs to operate according to regulations.

The area where goods are stored for import and export procedures does not have a fence separating it from the surrounding area, so it does not meet the inspection and supervision requirements of customs authorities.

Import and export goods stored at Dong Dang International Railway Station border gate, Lang Son. (Photo: Quang Duy/TTXVN)

In addition, the entrance to the yard is not equipped with a vehicle control barrier system. In the school's chemical yard area, there is no separate entrance and exit to separate the storage area for import-export and transit goods from domestic goods.

In particular, the road connecting from the national highway to the station is not guaranteed for the transportation of goods in and out. Along with that, the railway line from Dong Dang station connecting to Gia Lam station (Hanoi) and to other provinces, especially the southern provinces, has difficulty transporting goods due to different railway gauges, leading to businesses having to Loading, changing ships, increasing loading and unloading costs, warehousing...

Slow again due to land problems

According to information from Dong Dang Station Branch, the station was built in 1992 and up to now, infrastructure maintenance has not met the increasing transportation requirements of society.

Deputy Director of Dong Dang Station Branch, Ta Duy Hien, said that in the station there are currently 9 railway lines that can run trains of 1,000mm and 1,435mm. Although Dong Dang station can accommodate about 140 train cars, the rails containing the cars in the station are very short; The largest length can only accommodate about 25 freight cars, which cannot meet the requirements if the import-export situation increases. Even in 2022, Dong Dang station will have to dispatch trains to neighboring stations to reduce load.

From the above difficulties, Dong Dang Station Branch and Dong Dang International Railway Station Customs Branch have reported and related documents on the current status as well as recommendations for infrastructure investment for Dong Dang station. ; Along with that, the leaders of the People's Committee of Lang Son province also had working meetings with Vietnam Railway Corporation to discuss solutions to remove difficulties that are significant barriers to operation and import and export. via Dong Dang station.

“In mid-2023, the Ministry of Transport has implemented a project to renovate and upgrade chemical warehouse items in the Dong Dang station area, expected to be completed by the end of 2024, thereby helping to improve operations. station operations as well as improving import and export capacity, attracting businesses to the station. However, the project progress is quite slow due to problems with site clearance," a representative of Dong Dang Station Branch added.

Not only investing in infrastructure, relevant levels also need to pay attention to research, review, calculation and have a specific mechanism for import-export enterprises to open declarations through railway stations. Dong Dang international; Along with that is the orientation for businesses providing logistics, transportation, and cargo loading services to invest in developing services in the Dong Dang International Railway Station border gate area.

If properly invested, Dong Dang International Railway Station border gate will play an important role in infrastructure development of Dong Dang-Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone.

This will be a special gateway for import-export activities, trade, services, tourism and goods trade not only in Lang Son province but also between the Northeast region of Vietnam and China and vice versa./ .