SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE FREIGHT FORWARDING ACTIVITIES AT EI FREIGHT FORWARDING CO, LTD

VIETNAM GENERAL CONFEDERATION OF LABOUR TON DUC THANG UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE FREIGHT FORWARDING ACTIVITIES AT E.I FREIGHT FORWARDING CO., LTD Thesis submitted as a requirement for the degree Bachelor of Business Administration Supervisor: MBA MAI NGUYEN TRUONG SON Student: NGUYEN THI ANH DAO Student ID: 080852Q Intake: 12 HO CHI MINH CITY, August 2012 AKNOWLEDGEMENT Apart from the efforts of myself, the completion of this thesis would not have been possible without the kind support and help of many individuals and organizations I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of them Firstly, I would like to say thanks to all lecturers of Business Administration Faculty of Ton Duc Thang university who had given me background knowledge and encouragement In addition, I would like to express my gratitude towards my supervisor, Mr Mai Nguyen Truong Son for all his valuable advice and guidance during my thesis writing process Besides, my grateful thanks also go to officials and other staff members of E.I freight forwarding company Thanks for giving me a chance to work for the company as an intern, for their guidance and constant supervision as well as for providing necessary information regarding the thesis Last but not least I would like to thank my parents and my friends I am forever indebted to my parents for their understanding, endless patience, and encouragement through duration of my study Not forget to thank my beloved friends for their help and wishes for the successful completion of this thesis COMMENT OF SUPERVISOR Student: Nguyen Thi Anh Dao Class: 08QQ2D Student ID: 080852Q Intake: 12 …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………………… …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………………… …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………………… …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………………… …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………………… …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………………… …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………………… …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………………… …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………………… …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………………… August…………, 2012 Sinagture COMMENT OF EXAMINER Student: Nguyen Thi Anh Dao Class: 08QQ2D Student ID: 080852Q Intake: 12 …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………………… …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………………… …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………………… …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………………… …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………………… …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………………… …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………………… …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………………… …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………………… …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………………… August…………, 2012 Sinagture Table of Contents List of abbreviations List of tables List of figures INTRODUCTION 1 Problem statement Objective and significance of the study Scope and object of the study Methodology Data source Structure of the thesis CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW 1.1 Overview of freight forwarding 1.1.1 The concept of freight forwarding and freight forwarder 1.1.2 Scope of freight forwarder 1.1.3 Roles of freight forwarder 1.1.4 Rights, duties and responsibilities of forwarder 1.1.5 Type of ocean freight shipment of cargo by containers 1.1.5.1 FCL/FCL (Full Container Load) 1.1.5.2 LCL/LCL (Less than a Container Load) 10 1.2 Trend development of freight forwarding service 11 1.2.1 Trend development of freight forwarding service in Vietnam 11 1.2.2 Trend development of freight forwarding service in the world 12 CHAPTER 2: ANALYZING AND EVALUATING SEA FREIGHT FORWARDING ACTIVITIES AT E.I FREIGHT FORWARDING CO., LTD 14 2.1 Overview of E.I Freight Forwarding Co., Ltd 14 2.1.1 Introduction of Expeditors 14 2.1.1.1 The developing and history of Expeditors 14 2.1.1.2 Mission statement 15 2.1.1.3 Some outstanding awards 16 2.1.2 General introduction to E.I branch in Vietnam 16 2.2 Functions, missions, and business’s scope of enterprise 17 2.2.1 Functions 17 2.2.2 Missions 17 2.2.3 Scope of business 18 2.3 Organizational structure of E.I Freight Forwarding Co., Ltd 19 2.3.1 Organization chart of the enterprise 19 2.3.2 Functions and duties of departments 20 2.3.3 Overview of human resource situation of the enterprise 21 2.4 Business operation result of E.I Freight Forwarding Co., Ltd 22 2.5 Sea freight forwarding activity at E.I freight forwarding company 25 2.5.1 The process of exporting cargo by sea 25 2.5.1.1 Making a service contract with customer 26 2.5.1.2 Receiving documents from customer 26 2.5.1.3 Preparing for means of transportation 27 2.5.1.4 Carrying out customs procedures 28 2.5.1.5 Delivering goods to carrier 34 2.5.1.6 Preparing for payment documents 34 2.5.1.7 Settlement 36 2.5.2 Factors affect to freight forwarding activities at the company 36 2.5.2.1 External environment 36 2.5.2.2 Internal environment 38 CHAPTER 3: SOLUTIONS AND SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE FREIGHT FORWARDING ACTIVITIES AT E.I FREIGHT FORWARDING CO LTD 40 3.1 The basics of proposed solutions 40 3.1.1 Developing orientation of E.I freight forwarding Co Ltd 40 3.1.2 SWOT analysis 41 3.1.2.1 Strengths 42 3.1.2.2 Weaknesses 44 3.1.2.3 Opportunities 45 3.1.2.4 Threats 47 3.2 Some solutions to improve freight forwarding activities at E.I freight forwarding Co., Ltd 48 3.2.1 Retaining old customers, searching for new customers 48 3.2.2 Upgrade professional competence for employees 49 3.2.3 Enhancing initiative in service operation 49 3.2.4 Improve online relationships with customers 50 3.2.5 Improve the quality of service 50 3.2.6 Expand the relations 51 3.2.7 Promote and improve Marketing activities 51 3.2.8 Improvement to booking process and export documentation procedures 52 3.3 Some recommendations for the State 52 CONCLUSION 54 References Appendices List of abbreviations  B/L : Bill of Lading C/O : Certificate of Origin CFS : Container Freight Station CY : Container yard D/A : Documents against Acceptance D/P : Documents against Payment EDI : Electronic Data Interchange E.I : Expeditors International FCL : Full Container Load FIATA : Fédération Internationale des Associations de Transitaires et Assimilés (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations) HB/L : House bill of loading INV : Invoice L/C : Letter of Credit LCL : Less than a container load MB/L : Master Bill of Loading NVOCC : Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier P/L : Packing list SI : Shipping Instruction VIFFAS : Vietnam freight forwarders association WB : World Bank WTO : World Trade Organization List of tables Table 2.1: Personnel allocation of the company Table 2.2: The business result of company in the period 2008-2010 List of figures Figure 1.1: Process of FCL shipment Figure 1.2: Process of LCL shipment Figure 2.1: Organizational structure of the company Figure 2.2: Revenue and Profit from 2008 to 2010 Figure 2.3: The process of exporting cargo in container by sea at E.I freight forwarding Ltd., Co Opportunities The development of logistics industry of Vietnam Information technology system develops worldwide The international SO  Retaining old customers and searching for new customers  Expand the relations economic integration impulses the WO  Promote and improve Marketing activities  Enhancing initiative in service operation  Improve online relationships with customers development of trade Vietnam applied electronic customs declaration Threats ST WT Seasonality of freight forwarding service The traffic system and road system of  Upgrade professional competence for employees  Improve the quality  Improvement to booking process and export documentation procedures Vietnam is poor Transport cost continues to rise Domestic competitors and foreign competitors of service join in freight forwarding market 3.1.2.1 Strengths  S1: E.I company has good material facilities The office of E.I company in Ho Chi Minh city is located at the Flemington Tower E.I company creates a spacious and comfortable working environment for employees It also helps create a good impression for customers when they come to 42 E.I company Moreover, the company is equipped with the necessary equipment such as fax machines, telephones, photocopiers, laptops, computers, printers for staffs That equipment is necessary for searching and contacting to customers These days, documents are received through fax machine, so it helps to reduce time and risk when transferring by postal mail  S2: Employees at E.I company have professional skills and experience For most enterprises, the workforce is an invaluable asset At Expeditors in general and E.I Vietnam in particular, human resources play an important role in today’s achievement of the company Employees were selected carefully from prestigious universities in the major of business administration, foreign trade Process of recruitment is set up strictly, candidates must undergo a multiple choice test and three round of interview with human resource manager, manager of department and district director All is standardized in English The employees at E.I company are young (under 30-year-old employees account for 64.61%) and almost have bachelor’s degree It is clear that human resource of company has professional qualification, be educated, young, dynamic, work enthusiastically, high sense of responsibility, desire to learn, and quickly to adapt These are necessary and respectful qualities of company’s employees  S3: E.I company is received support from parent company –Expeditors Expeditors was established in 1979, so it has a long history of development and receives many success Therefore, the brand name Expeditors is the guarantee for the quality of service and its prestige Being a branch of Expeditors, E.I company in Vietnam is received support from its parent company The brand name of Expeditors help the company attracts more customers It also increases competitive competence of E.I in this industry Furthermore, the parent company also supports about finance, technology transfer and development strategy This is a great advantage that a flat organization cannot have  S4: The information technology system of E.I company is up-to-date and networked globally E.I company has specialized software systems There are Exp.o and Edoc Exp.o system is a tool for reporting and tracking of Expeditors, Exp.o was designed and built to cater for logistics professionals Whether looking at the situation where travel orders , locating merchandise transshipment, look up information or check in the amount of stock Exp.o has provided useful information for operator logistics Besides, Edoc - Document Imaging is software that allows all staff Expeditors search, store, and sort and manage documents This software will help to reduce 43 time in storing documents and it also makes easier for searching and send documents to customers The information technology system of E.I company contributes to the work be conducted more quickly and work efficiency of employees also increase  S5: E.I company has good relation with customers and carriers E I company has the information system that is connected closely to global information network It is able to transfer data and connect quickly to some carriers such as MAERSK, NYK, CMA-CGM, OOCL, MSC, etc Thanks to good relation with those carriers, cost of the bill can be pay at the end of month so that it will be an advantage to document department when needing the bill at that moment but does not receive money from accounting department E.I company has two groups of customers A group of overseas customers includes international clients and Expeditors International of EI is a subsidiary of Expeditors International Therefore, EI made for export from Vietnam to other import countries The second group is the domestic customers that the Sales department search and make a contract with them Some regularly customers that use sea freight forwarding service of E.I such as Nike, Hannesband, The Gap, Macy’s Merchandising, Mango, Triple garment  S6: The company was granted ISO 9002 certification The company had been granted a certificate of quality ISO 9002 in 2005, this has contributed to creating conditions conducive to improving the company's reputation with clients that many companies other forwarding still unrealized 3.1.2.2 Weaknesses  W1: E.I company is lack of marketing department E.I company does not have their own marketing department, so marketing activities is handled by sale staffs Without separating marketing department, it leads to the level of specialization is not high Although the company’s brand name is already in the market, there are more and more import and export companies and freight forwarding agencies join in the market It increases the level of completion in the market To compete with other companies, quality of service is necessary but it is not enough It requires the company has to research the market and meet the customer’s demand; and marketing department will help company this job If the company wants to develop larger and more professional in service customers, they must consider about this problem  W2: E.I forwarding only focus on small forwarding segment market and type of forwarding goods is less diverse 44 At present, the main market of E.I company is America, French and Canada However, there are still many markets that has so much potential development but E.I company has not focused on at that time such as: China, Korea, Japan, etc Furthermore, the categories of goods are also limited and less diverse The merchandises are mainly garment, footwear and wood product while the electronic products, plastic products are increasingly being potentially but it is received less attention  W3: Language skill of employees is limit Most of the employees just fluent in English but not know about the other language This is one of disadvantage if the company wants to expand to overseas market Especially, Asian market is the large and potential development market Knowing and speaking fluently in other language such as China, Japan, Korea will be a strong advantage for E.I company to create and keep the long-term and stable relations with foreign customers  W4: E.I company does not has its own website in Vietnamese A website is a tool for company to introduce about themselves It is an effective advertising tool for promote the image of the company Furthermore, the website is a bridge between customers and the company Customers can have a general view about company’s history, type of service through its website However, E.I company just have the website of parent company www.expeditors.com and it does not have Vietnamese language This is a disadvantage of E.I company 3.1.2.3 Opportunities  O1: The development of logistic industry in Vietnam According to a report by the World Bank (WB) launched in mid-year of 2011, Vietnam along with China, India, Thailand, Uganda, Philippines and South Africa have the economic development of the most impressive group of developing countries In particular, the logistics charts (LPI), Vietnam ranked 53 out of 155 economies This proves that Vietnam is gradually improved in a comprehensive way the development of logistics systems, including warehousing, logistics, transportation, and distribution At a conference table for logistics development in Vietnam era of integration to be held in Ho Chi Minh City in December, representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce said about 900 operators of logistics-related services only about 20% of foreign enterprises into joint ventures with local companies to exploit these services However, these joint ventures account for about 80% market 45 share Especially since 2014, the foreign enterprises in the field of logistics in Vietnam will be allowed to open a 100% foreign investment under WTO commitments At that time, the market will be crowded and more developed  O2: Information technology system develops worldwide The development of information technology on over the world helps the interaction between customers and the company is easier and quicker All work, contact, and transfer information is done through internet Most of transaction and making procedures are implemented through software that is networked Beside, Vietnam applied the electronic customs procedure declaration Enterprises can ecustoms declaration through computer It not only helps simplify the procedure but also help to reduce time and cost Thanks to information technology, everything seems easier  O3: The international economic integration impulses the development of trade Market opening and international economic integration has put Vietnam’s economy right at the door of opportunities This door takes Viet Nam’s enterprises to the opportunities of doing business with attractive markets such as the USA, the EU, China, Korea, Japan, etc The process of economic integration, particularly since Vietnam joined the WTO and greater participation of free trade agreements (FTAs) It creates an attraction to attract foreign investment into the area as well as mutual investment attraction from the member of organization This is a chance for Vietnam’s enterprises expand the market and eliminate trade barrier Furthermore, cargo of Vietnam is get preferential tax from WTO members This will help to promote the growth of freight forwarding and logistics service  O4: Vietnam applied electronic customs declaration The program has been piloted in Haiphong and Ho Chi Minh City since October 2005 The Vietnamese Prime Minister has approved expansion of a pilot ecustoms declaration program in 10 localities beginning October and running through the end of 2011 The General Department of Customs said 20 local customs departments have applied e-commerce procedures and more than 51,000 enterprises registered to use them as of end-February 2012 As many as 600,000 customs procedures were done electronically, accounting for 95.5 percent of total declarations This form accounted 93.4 percent of export and import value, or US$36.8 billion These figures show the degree of response by Vietnamese businesses to e-customs advantages like lower costs, and less time and fewer workhours required 46 3.1.2.4 Threats  T1: Seasonality of freight forwarding service Employees usually work overload during peak days Some final months of the year (on Christmas and Tet holiday) , the company had lots of order so that the employees had to work harder than the normal day Thus, the quality of work is not ensured Besides, at January and February, E I company just had a few orders The amount of orders is not stable during year that affects significantly on output of freight forwarding service of E I company Seasonality of freight forwarding service makes the company business is unstable This also affects directly to employment and income of employers Furthermore, in the period that the company has less order, the company still must pay for annual depreciation of machinery, still pay salary for employees, and it makes profits is declining  T2: The traffic system and road system of Vietnam is poor Traffic system is a vital factor in freight forwarding service It affects to time of delivery and state of cargo However, infrastructure road traffic of Vietnam has not met the requirements of social development such as road is narrow, the road is not guaranteed for travel safe, the number of bridges have low loading capacity Traffic jam often happens that makes transportation time is stretching longer than estimating Because of poor traffic, Vietnam’s infrastructure over the years is always being judged is bot keep up with the socio-economic development It causes obstacles for domestic and overseas investors  T3: Transport cost continues to rise Transport costs increased dramatically in recent year; maritime transport cost rose sharply and there has not tended to go down The cause of the price increase is due to the increase of oil price and is in plan of shipping company after the decline of prices in last year On the other hand, transport cost rises that impacts to fee for freight forwarding service increases However, price is an element to attract customers Therefore, the pressure of competition also increases It affects to the number of customers  T4: Domestic competitors and foreign competitors join in freight forwarding market Since Vietnam joined WTO (World Trade Organization) in 2007, economic exchanges between Vietnam and other countries were constantly increase This is not only a chance to grow but also challenge to overcome for freight forwarder According to commitment of WTO, Vietnam allowed marine service companies 47 that have 100% foreign capital operating in Vietnam Thus, competitive pressure in the freight forwarding market has increased This makes E.I company has to compete with domestic competitors and foreign competitors The main competitors of E.I company are Transimex-Saigon and Vinatrans Each company has its own strengths Transimex-Saigon has the advantage of competitive price and reputable brand name while Vinatrans has the advantage of facilities as well as staffs The competition of the market is quite special The company is customers of each other as well as competitors E.I with smaller scale operations cannot be compared to the enormous companies such as MAESK LOG, APL LOG, KUEL NAGEL Therefore, enterprises need to put reasonable strategies into effect in order to adapt to business environment, to fit competitive requirements 3.2 Some solutions to improve freight forwarding activities at E.I freight forwarding Co., Ltd 3.2.1 Retaining old customers, searching for new customers Objective: to maintain long-term relationship with customers, this is the solid base makes the most stable and sustainable success of the company  Retaining old customers The company has always been interest to the customer’s requirements and keeps good bilateral relationship, and regularly communicates with customers to capture the feedback from customers to the more rational policies For longtime client, on holidays the company should have presents If the customer has a burial ceremony or risks the companies must dispatched to visit or write to express condolences, in both the business as well as in life let them know they were always considered to be divine  Searching for new customers E.I company should participate in freight forwarding association such as VIFFAS (Vietnam Freight Forwarders Association) to take additional market situation logistics services in the country as well as abroad, as well as receiving support from the Association The company's principal market is the US, France and Canada, what about the other markets account for only a very small proportion, in the future if it wants to expand business operations, requires the company to expand its market As a company that specializes in making nominated goods, so company cannot sign a contract with the customer, but through the branches of Expeditors, affiliates will be in charge of finding clients and signed a contract with them, and then the client will specify the import and export of them right through the company E.I Therefore, the sales department can seek prestige or newly established exporters, there are many goods going to the market that the company 48 wants to extend, and then refer to branch of Expeditors in the market so that the branches can search the partners who have needs As such, it can be more active in finding customers that not too dependent on the designation of the Expeditors branches 3.2.2 Upgrade professional competence for employees Objective: in order to complete forwarding competence and enhance sense of responsibility for staff through raising awareness, organizing syllabus or discussion period Human is an important factor determining the success of an organization or a company Therefore, to enhance the effect of service must enhance the quality of human resource of company Moreover, to own professional staff with high sense of responsibility and dedication with work E.I needs to: o Frequently celebrate period of discussion about forwarding service to help staff quickly achieve new experience and knowledge o Frequently invite foreign experts for technical training to staffs o Encourage staff further study foreign languages not English at all by sponsoring tuitions o Have program that update knowledge about more and more diverse information technology for staff o Recruit outside personnel with capacity o Periodically organize the course for training problem solving skill and ability to the job o To organize the examination to eliminate the irresponsible employees and work ineffectively On that basis, the company will understand the professional qualifications of the staff and give solution to improve o Have policy for remuneration, rewards, and punishments to encourage the spirit for employees Besides, raising the spirit of accountability for staffs is essential that will contribute to improving the work efficiency Employees should consult the customer's goods as his property to be able to work more carefully, more seriously, and minimizing the risks arising in the course of work 3.2.3 Enhancing initiative in service operation Objective: To minimize the influence of seasonality to gain initiative in the operation of the company As analyzed above, a peculiarity which is also a exist shortcomings of freight forwarding is seasonality Seasonality of service operations comes from the 49 seasonality of the import and export cargo operations by volume of goods import and export However, while our country is increasingly integrated into the economic region and the world, the flow of goods will be increasingly promoted Although there is a drop in cargo volume but it does not means have no good, if knowing how exploit, E.I company can still have a stable source of goods , thereby taking the initiative in production and business activities To this, the company could carry out methods as follows: o Reducing price at off-peak times: In the field of service delivery, the prerequisite is quality but for many customers the price factor bearing an important in the process of decision-making Consequently, discounts in every off-peak time will be effective measures to attract customers, bring employment and source of income for the company When conducting a discount, the company will probably fall into bad loans without interest, even holes Nevertheless, if doing nothing, the company will still have to pay employee salaries, depreciation of machinery and equipment If done strategically off the company also have a benefit is maintaining and expanding relationships with clients, this is potentially profitable ones, hardly nothing to buy o The company could provide customers with services like: - Consult customers about competitive situations in the market, foreign trade, and international law - Consult customers about potential and trustful exporting counter partners in the market - Consult customers about trustworthy ocean liners, rational routes, and necessary procedures for smooth import export 3.2.4 Improve online relationships with customers Objective: To build business creditability and to retain customers’ trust The company should polish its image via setting up a website with good design in order to attract customers’ attention In addition, the company should give customers feedback as soon as possible, have specific regulations of its own policies, contract terms, and instructions, and give preferential treatment to long-term customers 3.2.5 Improve the quality of service Objective: To improve service quality of export merchandise exchange, to extend forms of exchanging service so as to enhance the company’s competiveness 50 In fact, service quality has played a more and more important role in the market economy It is an effective strategy in competition and probably influences on the existence of enterprises in the future The company, therefore, need to invest more in improving service quality At present, the price of E.I is still higher than that of other companies Therefore, E.I needs measurements about price fixing so that its price is reasonable and suitable for each market and different kinds of customers To the market shares getting increasing turnover, the company should make a reduction in price to stimulate and attract customers Moreover, the key issue is that the company has to implement research and apply measurements to lower down service price, which can lead to stronger competiveness in the market In the current situation of skyrocketing price, a good price policy with professional working style will easily receive the likeness from customers To new clients, the company should create policies about preferential price to be able to establish long-running relationship with them In addition, can apply a policy of enhancing service quality without price increase, bringing long-term benefits to the company 3.2.6 Expand the relations Objective: To complete the ability of conducting export exchange through participating in specialized organizations and associations To play its part, the exchange company has to have a wide relation of acquaintances with many people, circles, and governmental organs Particularly, it has to a connection with exporters and importers to seek for source of goods supply, with ocean liners and airliners to hire means of transportation, with banks and financial organizations to carry out credit and payment transaction, with customs to conduct merchandise import export procedures, with other secondary contractors to hire value-added services (packing, storing, or sterilizing) 3.2.7 Promote and improve Marketing activities Objective: enhancing marketing activities, advertise service and brand name to attract more customers As mentioning above, E.I company does not have the marketing department and sale staffs take over for marketing activities, but it is quite simple and does not have specific plan and strategy E.I company should establish a marketing department to make marketing plan and strategy to advertise for the company The marketing team can have three to four people; to organize successfully market research, the Marketing department should capture the following functions: 51 Market research, analysis of potential, demands for freight forwarding and predict prospect - Strengthen services business to adapt to regular fluctuation of the market - Satisfy the rapidly growing demand in the field of logistics, organizing and improving the system of distribution, coordinated planning business - Enhance business performance 3.2.8 Improvement to booking process and export documentation procedures Objective: limit shortcomings when performing the process, to fulfill the exporting process  Booking: Build the system of customer’s order-form control With this system, it will help to find the up-to-date order-form, true or false, sufficient or insufficient Staff can update possible information immediately and contact with customer to check and fix for better  Documentation: Update system about frequent unchangeable data such as name of Shipper, Consignee, Notify Party, place of receiving, packing goods and all kinds of procedure This will save a considerable amount of time in doing FCR and Bill for customers Negotiate with customer without original procedures, scan document (copy) instead, turn on edoc system, then distribute It is not like using express delivery that may take time, cause delay in shipping and costs 3.3 Some recommendations for the State The company’s efforts are not only enough to improve business but also need the support from government, the ministries, the Association of transport Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and industry of Vietnam to create most favorable conditions for activity of the company The State needs to adjust the legal system so that the system can be tight, full and explicit to ensure the legitimate rights and interests for enterprises of Vietnam Moreover, the State should have a plan for reforming administrative formalities and for building and executing the program to modernize and reform of customs procedures The route should be shortened time for conducting customs procedures for export-import goods in order to reduce the time Customs declaration should be applied by e-customs declaration to save time and help enterprises more advantages in the implementation of import and export contracts, avoid delay in delivery that - 52 can cause more expenses as incurred: charge storage, demurrage that affect efficiency of import-export of enterprises Simplifying customs procedures, improving import-export management procedures in line with international practices, the Convention that will contribute to promote economic exchanges, especially in the field of freight forwarding The State needs to have the prediction for market, the price of gasoline in order to support information for enterprises This support should be conducted regularly, so enterprises can be anticipated to be new opportunities, at the same time be able to prevent these bad happenings may occur Vietnam is a developing country, so encouraging foreign investment in the country is also very necessary Therefore, the State is also required to take advantage of the foreign investment capital to develop the resources economy, development of the country The State creates a good environment for foreign investment is not only contribute to the economic development of the country but also help Vietnam’s enterprises learn more experiences on science and technology and more experiences on management and administration of an enterprise In addition, the State should invest more in infrastructure facilities to the system of seaports, airports, as well as invest strongly for transportation, especially the ship to be able to compete with foreign shipping company in transporting cargo Other important sectors such as insurance and banking should also be adequately investing to build real strong national resource helps enterprises be more confidence in negotiating a contract to export with the most beneficial terms 53 CONCLUSION At this period, foreign trade between Vietnam and other countries in the globe has been increasingly busy and developed, and in the near future, it tends to be rocketing In the face of increasing enterprises in demands of merchandise import export, the foundation of exchange companies have contributed to overcome difficulties, which enterprises have encountered in their operations, lowering the cost of time and expenses Merchandise import export exchange is a complex operation, involving in a variety of works; thus, exchange companies have to master specialized knowledge, employ it rightly, and be flexible in dealing with unexpected circumstances quickly and effectively Besides individual effort and striving, it requires a rhythmically mutual cooperation and support among staff With the efforts and incessant learning of the Board and staff, the merchandise company E.I has taken steady steps and rapidly developed with better and better service quality The company has grown in greater size, having competitiveness at home and abroad Moreover, it has provided its customers with good service, and also met their different and complex needs However, at the situation that information and communication technology and foreign trade have been operated strongly, the market of merchandise exchange is also in a fiercer competition due to the appearance of many companies in this field If E.I wants to survive this battle and go further, its service supply has be more and professional to keep long-term clients as well as draw new ones Moreover, the company has to gain customers’ trust by making the most of its existing strengths like human resources or relations; at the same time, it should not only straight admit its shortcomings and work out solutions to them, but it needs to notice the matter of cost and time Through this paper, I presented the sea freight forwarding activities of E.I.’s, service types, preparation, and goods exchange process, and also recommended solutions to better this process However, mistakes are unavoidable, so I really want feedback from both teachers and E.I staff 54 References  Material Phạm Mạnh Hiền, Nghiệp vụ giao nhận vận tải bảo hiểm ngoại thương, NXB thống kê, 2007 Triệu Hồng Cẩm, Vận tải quốc tế bảo hiểm vận tải quốc tế, NXB văn hóa Sài Gịn, 2009  Website http://www.expeditors.com/ (cited July 8, 2012) http://en.wikipedia.org (cited July 8, 2012) http://www.customs.gov.vn (cited July 10, 2012) http://vneconomy.vn/ (cited July 10, 2012) http://www.customs.gov.vn/English/Lists/CustomsFormalities/Exporter-OtherDetails.aspx?ID=99 (cited July 11, 2012) http://www.customs.gov.vn/English/Lists/CustomsFormalities/Exporter-OtherDetails.aspx?ID=99 (cited July 11, 2012) (cited July 11, 2012) http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-freight-forwarding.htm (cited July 12, 2012) http://www.vinamarine.gov.vn/Index.aspx?page=detail&id=634 (cited July 13, 2012) http://gafin.vn/20120320062235296p0c33/gia-cuoc-van-tai-bien-du-kien-tangmanh-doanh-nghiep-xuat-khau-kho-khan.htm (cited July 13, 2012) 10 http://www.rsj-international.co.uk/Types/2010/Trends-and-freight-industry.html (cited July 23, 2012) 11 http://www.youtemplates.com/show.asp?file=14331 (cited July 26, 2012) 55 Appendices 56 ... beloved friends for their help and wishes for the successful completion of this thesis COMMENT OF SUPERVISOR Student: Nguyen Thi Anh Dao Class: 08QQ2D Student ID: 080852Q Intake: 12 ……………………………………………... development and potential of this sector, the chosen topic was "Solutions to improve freight forwarding service of cargo export at E.I freight forwarding Co Ltd” From this point, this thesis goes deep... stamp in this field  Item 30: Declarant signs and stamps in this field  Item 31: Confirming of customs that goods is passed the supervised area: customs staff will sign and stamp in this field