Known as one of the best-performing chambers of commerce in the world, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) now gathers nearly 11,000 direct members and more than 100,000 indirect members representative of all economic sectors. Most State and private companies and major associations are VCCI members.
Huge workload
On April 27, 1963, on behalf of the Council of Government, Prime Minister Pham Van Dong signed the Decision 58-CP on the establishment of the Chamber of Commerce of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. During its 50-year history, VCCI has always been a strong backer for the Vietnamese business community and entrepreneurs.
As a national agency representative of Vietnamese business community, VCCI has greatly contributed to the rapid formation and development of market economic institution in Vietnam, built business community and entrepreneur force, improved investment and business environment and served as an important connecter for authorities and business communities to seek common points.
As a national agency representative of Vietnamese business community, VCCI has greatly contributed to the rapid formation and development of market economic institution in Vietnam, built business community and entrepreneur force, improved investment and business environment and served as an important connecter for authorities and business communities to seek common points.
VCCI took the lead in studying and popularising President Ho Chi Minh ideology on enterprises and entrepreneurs. VCCI made important contributions to building viewpoints, policies and legal foundations concerning Vietnamese business environment, based on the generation of favourable conditions for development of enterprises and entrepreneurs, by taking part in the construction and organisation of the Law on Enterprises, the Law on Investment, and others. VCCI coordinated with business associations to propose the Prime Minister to take October 13 as the Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day, honour Vietnamese outstanding entrepreneurs, directly compiled a scheme to submit to the Politburo for issuing the Resolution on “Building and promoting the role of Vietnamese entrepreneurs in the period of industrialisation, modernisation and international economic integration.”
VCCI studied, announced, supported and advised provinces and cities to improve provincial competitiveness index (PCI), create emulative movements, enhance the quality of economic governance and administrative reform of local authorities. VCCI led many trade and investment promotion events in a bid to boost exports and draw foreign investment into Vietnam. VCCI also studied and published annual reports and other periodic reports on enterprise situations and proposed timely solutions and policies to the Government.
VCCI also chaired and co-chaired many important, prestigious policy dialogue forums on major economic and business affairs in Vietnam like Annual Meeting between the Prime Minister and Business Executives and Vietnam Economic Forum. Many important business executive forums were also successfully organised in Vietnam by VCCI. And, VCCI also hosted many business forums attended by the heads of state and heads of governments from many countries in the world.
In trade and investment promotion and business support, VCCI built a network of small and medium enterprise support centres in the country. The Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) Programme - a joint effort between VCCI and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) - is being deployed in most provinces and cities in the country. Business administration training programmes in collaboration with international organisations like INSEAD, EuroCham and the Keidanren were top-rate advanced business training programmes in Vietnam.
VCCI hosted many major trade and investment promotion activities, helping boost exports and draw foreign investment projects into Vietnam. VCCI organised business delegations accompanying Party and State leaders, and held business forums, Vietnam Days, dialogues, seminars and meetings during their working visits to foreign countries to popularise the image of Vietnamese land, people and economy with very practical results. VCCI also guided and supported Vietnamese businesses to deal with barriers, apply protective measures, settle disputes in international trade, and protect their legitimate rights and interests in the integration process.
With respect to building business culture and promoting corporate social responsibility, VCCI soon established the Bureau for Employers' Activities, the Employers Council of Vietnam, the Entrepreneurial Culture Centre, and Office for Business Sustainable Development and a series of information, consulting, training and business support activities to build harmonious labour relations, protect environment, and develop the community.
To attach the importance to connectivity in the business community, VCCI established the Central Council for Vietnam Business Associations and supported the formation of business associations, and built business association networks in Vietnam. Currently, the country has more than 300 associations at national and provincial/municipal levels and most of them have involved in VCCI’s operations.
That is a huge workload for an organisation with limited financial and capability like VCCI.
Further devotion and professionalism
However, on the unprecedented road where there are no available models for VCCI to follow and in the context of economic transition with many local characteristics, VCCI cannot avoid all shortcomings, imperfections and wrongdoings. There are a lot of things VCCI wants to do but it cannot do. Dr Vu Tien Loc, VCCI President, said the voice of the business community and the policy advisory of VCCI for many important economic issues of the country are still not strong enough; the interaction with business associations is not enough; some trade and investment promotion activities lack of professionalism. The functions of representing employers and supporting the construction of harmonious labour relations fall short of expectations in some aspects. And, generally speaking, to meet what the business community and the economy require, VCCI has to try more.
Dr Loc said the economy and business community are entering a new stage of development where restructuring requirements for a modern and sustainable structure become vital. And, VCCI, as the national agency representing the business community, has an important role in supporting companies to implement these requirements. To do this, VCCI needs to be more responsible and more astute in policy consulting for the perfection of market economy and the existence of fair and transparent business environment, he said.
"VCCI must be more dedicated and professional in promoting and supporting businesses, especially SMEs; and must add more effort to make business-linking initiatives, build a network of business communities and associations in order to make Vietnam not only an economy of separate businesspeople but of a powerful business community. These are the important tasks that VCCI must perform to enhance the capacity of businesses and entrepreneurs, ensure successful integration and competition, "Dr Loc affirmed.
Quynh Anh
Vietnamese
