In the context of global competition, enterprises are seeking associations capable of resolving their problems, and associations never ignore to send suggestions to policymaking. How to send suggestions for effective policymaking? This is also the target that the Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) wants to bring to Vietnamese business associations through a training course held with collaboration of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).
Business associations are the voice of its members and independent associations can voluntarily raise their voices for creating favourable environment for business circle and business development. Effectively performing associations usually combine membership services with programmes to lobby the changes to policies relating to their members. According to CIPE, the lobby is the key to success and existence of an association.
According to Mr. Fred Whiting, CIPE, public policymaking lobbying is important for a civil society, policymaker and cabinet officials. Regarding a civil society, policymaking lobbying creates a favourable economic and political climate, create the policy stability and ensure the practicability and equality of laws and regulations. Regarding legislators, they need information relating to the issues, public opinions and constituent viewpoints. Therefore, policy lobbyists need to have eligibility, righteous points of views, far-sighted visions and well as political delicacy.
The type lobbying used by an association depends on the context of its country. According to experience, lobbying for public policies still encounter many challenges. A suitable and systematic lobbying strategy at local levels can overcome these challenges.
The level of lobbying primarily depends on financial and human resources. Many associations find that the lobbying has strong pressure on their budgets and human resource, especially, if they are unable to hire specialists to study and analyse laws and materials for lobbying. Thus, according to CIPE, it is vital to train associations’ members about the importance of lobbying to encourage them to fulfil their tasks. Besides, business associations need to consider their external conditions and environments.
Understanding the lawmaking process is necessary for successful lobbying. Associations need to know who, when and how to approach by their own message. Nonetheless, this is also one of the hardest beginning steps because regulations and legal procedures are quite complicated and usually changeable. The understanding of any changes needs the cooperation between association representatives and its members. According to CIPE, if associations are young and lack experience in lobbying, one of effective approaching methods is to define the scope of lobbying and carry out at local levels first.
Materials supporting for lobbying introduced by Mr Fred Whiting include viewpoints on directed lobbying, researches on negative and positive impacts, specialist viewpoint, surveys, polls, speeches, letters sent to mass media, the press and leaflets. Importantly, associations must show their lobbying programmes. Therefore, the establishment and association with experienced news agencies and advertising companies for lobbying are very important.
The most important thing is, according to Mr. Fred Whiting, the close relationship with lawmakers and competent state organs as well as with their employees. Besides, they must produce summaries and introduce researches and assistances for the law and decree drafting. He emphasised that associations must never give up but sometimes need to compromise to reach the objectives.
Huyen Nhi
Vietnamese
