Hai Phong asked not to charge inland waterway infrastructure fees

The Ministry of Finance has just issued Official Letter No. 8058/BTC-CST to the People’s Committee of Hai Phong City on fees for using infrastructure works, service works and public utilities in the seaport border gate area.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Finance said Official Letter No. 4732/VPCP-CN of the Government Office enclosed with Official Letter No. 650/UBTCNS15 of the Finance and Budget Committee of the National Assembly, which stated the recommendations of the Associations. Enterprises regarding the collection of fees for the use of infrastructure works, service works and public utilities in the border-gate areas of Hai Phong City and Ho Chi Minh City are as follows: “It is recommended not to collect fees for goods transportation by inland waterway”.

The Finance and Budget Committee commented, based on considering the opinions of business associations related to inland waterway transport, the Standing Committee of Finance and Budget said that, although legally , the content of the Resolution of the People’s Councils of 2 cities is strict and consistent with the law because it is only a general rule, not specifically for each specific type of transport.

“But from the perspective of practical application, inland waterway transport objects may not use or make insignificant use of locally managed seaport infrastructure. Therefore, it is not really satisfactory for the two localities to charge this fee for inland waterway transport,” the Finance and Budget Committee said.

Regarding the above contents, the Ministry of Finance has opinions, according to regulations, to decide on the level of collection, exemption, reduction, collection, payment, management and use of charges and fees for the use of infrastructure works floors, service works, public utilities in the border gate area under the jurisdiction of the People’s Council of the province.

In addition, the Ministry of Finance said that on July 7, the People’s Council of Ho Chi Minh City also approved Resolution No. 07/2022/NQ-HDND amending and supplementing Resolution No. 10/2020/NQ- After receiving the Notice of Conclusion from Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai, the People’s Council assigned to study and collect opinions from ministries, agencies and agencies.

Accordingly, Ho Chi Minh City revised the regulations on the subjects and scope of application, exemption and reduction of fees, adjustment of toll rates, specifically reducing the rate from August 1. Accordingly, the city exempts fees for the following types of goods: imported directly serving security and defense; ensure safety and overcome consequences of natural disasters and epidemics; send to a bonded warehouse; transit; in and out of the port by waterways according to the Agreement between the Governments of Vietnam and Cambodia on water transport. At the same time, the fee will be reduced by 50% for goods temporarily imported for re-export, goods temporarily exported for re-import, goods stored in bonded warehouses, goods in transit, goods transshipped, exported and imported goods transported into and out of the port by inland waterways.

The Ministry of Finance proposed Hai Phong to have a plan to handle the recommendations appropriately, and send it to the Ministry of Finance to summarize and report to the Prime Minister before August 31.