The Vietnamese Ministry of Finance has asked all customs departments to reduce checks on export and import containers at ports nationwide to help companies cut cost and time for customs clearance, the Saigon Times Daily reported.

Deputy Minister of Finance Do Hoang Anh Tuan said that the Government had asked for streamlined customs clearance procedures.

The customs is working toward reducing the ratio of container checks at ports to 15 percent by year-end from the 2008 level of 23 percent and 17 percent last year, Tuan said.