On September 24, the USAID Trade Facilitation Program held its first Private Sector Trade Facilitation meeting with 26 business leaders from import/export sectors, law firms, tax and consultancy services, manufacturing, industrial zones, shippers, and express courier firms. The aim of the meeting was to gather information and feedback from this diverse set of business leaders so they could add their perspectives about trade facilitation related issues. The USAID Trade Facilitation Program gave a brief presentation to introduce the program’s goals and activities, followed by a lively discussion on how activities can be tailored to partner with the private sector in addressing real world customs procedure and trade facilitation issues experienced by many businesses. Much of the discussion centered around the problems encountered when dealing with national and local customs departments, including the lack of transparency or consistency in treatment, ambiguous legislation, varying interpretation of regulations and administrative procedures, continued reliance on paper documents and most importantly, corruption and integrity issues. 

So What? Private sector engagement discussions on trade facilitation will enhance the inclusion and participation of the private sector in more transparent customs operations and improve Vietnam’s trade facilitation policy, ultimately building the country’s financing self-reliance.