Removing bottlenecks in import-export activities

In recent times, Dong Nai City has organized numerous meetings and dialogue sessions to listen to and address difficulties faced by businesses engaged in import and export activities in the city. It has also sought to attract businesses to Dong Nai to complete customs procedures in order to increase import-export turnover and boost local budget revenue.

The city's proactive efforts have helped remove bottlenecks and promote import-export activities while creating a transparent and business-friendly environment for investment and business operations. These efforts aim to strengthen Dong Nai's appeal to domestic and foreign investors, particularly those operating in high-tech industries, semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI) and aviation technology.

Listening to and engaging in dialogue with businesses

City leaders have consistently prioritized creating the most favorable possible business environment, particularly for foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises, throughout their investment exploration, project development and production and business operations in Dong Nai.

Workers manufacture medical equipment for export at Sheng Bang Metal Co., Ltd. in Song May Industrial Park, Binh Minh Commune. Photo: Ngoc Lien.

Notably, the city has organized meetings and dialogue sessions with Japanese and South Korean businesses, companies exploring investment opportunities in Dong Nai, and enterprises already operating in the city but completing customs procedures elsewhere, encouraging them to return to Dong Nai to carry out customs procedures locally. The meetings and dialogue sessions between city leaders and representatives of departments and agencies have helped local authorities and businesses better understand each other. They have also contributed to gradually addressing bottlenecks and creating a friendly, convenient and transparent business environment, giving enterprises greater confidence to maintain their production and business operations.

At these meetings and dialogue sessions, businesses raised concerns about tax policies, administrative procedures related to the import and export of goods, and labor regulations. Relevant authorities provided direct responses at the sessions or issued written replies afterward. This approach has helped Dong Nai secure greater cooperation and consensus from businesses while strengthening their confidence in the city. Following a meeting and dialogue session in early 2026, Dong Nai succeeded in attracting additional enterprises to conduct their customs procedures locally, helping offset budget revenue shortfalls resulting from tax reduction policies.

Speaking at a meeting between South Korean businesses and leaders of the City Party Committee, Lee Chang Dong, Chief Executive Officer of TKG Taekwang Group, said that as a global footwear manufacturer, Taekwang was pursuing a strategy to expand into various sectors, including chemicals, textiles and garments, real estate, finance, energy and information technology. In Dong Nai, Taekwang established its first footwear manufacturing plant in 1994, creating jobs for nearly 30,000 workers. Throughout its development, the group has consistently worked alongside local authorities and will continue to strengthen cooperation to contribute to community development. To ensure sustainable and stable production, Taekwang hopes to continue receiving attention and support from city leaders at all levels.

Businesses as “strategic partners”

At a meeting with businesses at Customs Sub-Department of Region 18 in early 2026, customs authorities affirmed that enterprises were not merely entities subject to management, but rather “strategic partners” of Dong Nai. Every customs declaration registered locally, the customs authority emphasized, represents a commitment by Customs Sub-Department of Region 18 to supporting businesses through faster cargo clearance, lower costs and on-the-spot resolution of any difficulties. As global supply chains increasingly demand precision down to the hour, positioning customs checkpoints close to manufacturing facilities is a smart way to eliminate risks associated with logistics delays.

Workers manufacture medical equipment for export at Sheng Bang Metal Co., Ltd. in Song May Industrial Park, Binh Minh Commune.

To support businesses, the customs sector maintains dedicated teams to resolve difficulties and provide consultation at both border-gate and inland customs offices. These teams are tasked with promptly, attentively and effectively addressing emerging issues, as well as advising and assisting businesses with any uncertainties during customs procedures. Should difficulties remain unresolved after being handled by the relevant border-gate or inland customs offices, businesses may submit questions to Customs Sub-Department of Region 18 through its website or the Dna-office system for further assistance.

Dong Nai is currently placing considerable emphasis on attracting high-tech, environmentally friendly investment projects in three spearhead sectors: aviation technology; semiconductor technology, chip manufacturing and artificial intelligence (AI); and automation equipment and information technology equipment. Under the city's development plans, large areas of rubber plantations have been earmarked for industrial development, facilitating site clearance and the expansion of industrial parks. In addition, the city has planned a high-tech park and an information technology industrial park covering approximately 600 hectares in total to attract high-tech investors.

Directing departments and agencies to continue supporting businesses, Ho Van Ha, Member of the Dong Nai City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee, instructed Customs Sub-Department of Region 18 to step up administrative reform and minimize customs clearance times. Procedures must be made transparent and publicly accessible to support import-export businesses. All difficulties must be assigned to officials for direct, on-site resolution. The customs authority must also proactively grasp information about businesses and new projects in the city to encourage and attract them to conduct their customs procedures in Dong Nai.

Alongside providing business support, the Vice Chairman also called on the customs sector to nurture sustainable revenue sources and coordinate closely with relevant agencies to strictly combat smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods.

According to statistics from Customs Sub-Department of Region 18, it currently handles customs procedures for more than 5,400 businesses in the city, of which approximately 2,400 regularly complete their procedures through the sub-department.

City departments and agencies must further strengthen their sense of responsibility and ensure that difficulties and obstacles are not allowed to persist in ways that disrupt businesses' production, operations and import-export activities. Tax authorities and relevant units must immediately establish an integrated coordination mechanism with the customs sector to promptly resolve issues involving tax refunds and the offsetting of tax liabilities. They should also proactively support businesses conducting customs procedures in Dong Nai through trade promotion programs and take decisive action to resolve difficulties facing investors.

For the business community, the city’s People’s Committee hopes that enterprises will continue to place their trust in Dong Nai and maintain long-term partnerships with the city, as well as bring their customs declarations and procedures directly to Dong Nai for processing locally.

By Ngoc Lien - Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha