VCCI's Major Events in 2004

Greater Mekong Sub-region Trade Fair 2004 (GMS 2004)

The first Greater Mekong Sub-region trade fair 2004 (GMS 2004) was co-hosted by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Greater Mekong Sub-region Business Forum (GMS-BF) in Hanoi from March 4-7, 2004.

The trade fair’s goals were to introduce and create opportunities of economic cooperation, trade promotion and investment attraction among GMS member countries, especially tight trade and investment cooperation in border regions. The trade fair brought back chances for Vietnamese enterprises and business associations to spread their images and seek partners in the region.

More than 200 enterprises from countries in GMS including Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and China and other countries such as Malaysia, Japan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Switzerland attended the trade fair. They exhibited their products such as garments-textiles, handicraft, pharmaceuticals, leather-footwear, wood furniture, agricultural produces, processed foodstuff, fisheries, electric equipment and gold and jewellery.

VCCI, Vietnam General Confederation of Labour sign MoU on cooperation programme

According to the signed memorandum of understanding (MoU), VCCI and Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) will regularly inform their operation situations to each other. The two sides will coordinate to develop a harmonious labour relation between employers and employees in the economy, particularly in local enterprises.

The agreement will help solve problems arising from labour relations in order to ensure legitimate rights for both labourers and employers. VCCI and VGCL will bring out flexible cooperation mechanisms to solve those issues in light with prevailing laws. They will also continue to sum up implementation of the Labour Code to help the State complete labour policies and regulations, which will stimulate investment attraction to create more jobs for local residents and help improve competitiveness in Vietnam’s economy.

Taxation, customs departments have talks with enterprises

The dialogue between local entrepreneurs and the General Department of Taxation and General Department of Customs, which was co-organised by the VCCI and the Ministry of Finance, attracted the participation of hundreds of enterprises. Tax policies and customs procedures are always top impediments to enterprises’ operations. At the dialogue, the hottest issues were those relating to the definition of tax codes, tariff rates, taxable value of goods and services, and punishments to violations, customs procedures and working attitude of customs officials.

During the meeting, many petitions and complaints from enterprises were solved by the departments. However, via the talks, many companies showed that they had not grasped enough information about taxation and customs policies.

Conference “Intensifying Vietnam-China economic ties”

The conference was held by the VCCI in co-ordination with the Chinese Embassy to Vietnam and China Committee for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). The event was part of the action programme of the Vietnam-China Business Forum, which had been approved by the Vietnamese Prime Minister. The forum is a bridge between the government and enterprises for better understanding about information relating to bilateral trade activities, and agreements and conventions signed with the neighbouring country in fields of investment and trade. The forum will help boost trade-economic ties between the two countries. Recently, the two governments have set a target of raising bilateral trade revenues to US$10 billion in 2010.

Africa-Vietnam Business Forum

Three hundred Vietnamese enterprises and nine ambassadors from African countries attended the forum “Vietnam-Africa Trade & Investment Development Co-operation ”, which was organised by the VCCI, in order to enhance investment co-operation and boost bilateral trade between Vietnam and the African continent.

In the 1991-2002 period, bilateral trade revenues between Vietnam and African countries witnessed a 10-fold increase (excluding revenues from trading via a third party). However, trade value between the two sides remains modest. Export value of Vietnam to the Africa accounts for around 1 per cent of the country’s total export revenues while Vietnam’s import from the continent makes up 0.1 per cent of the foreign countries’ total exports.

The Vietnamese government has provided funds for establishing more trade representative units and opening embassies in some African countries; Tanzania, Morocco and Nigeria. Vietnam is now negotiating to sign trade agreements with some African countries. It hopes to also sign agreements on investment encouragement and protection and dual taxation avoidance with African countries.

Prime Minister meets enterprises for fewer business impediments

Initiated by VCCI, the meeting between the Prime Minister and enterprises operating in Vietnam has become an annual and the most awaited event for the Vietnamese business community. The 2004 PM-enterprise meeting focused on the issues of enhancing efficiency and competitiveness of local enterprises in preparation for further integration into the world economy. The conference also discussed common comprehension about the activities of State bodies and the business community and the relations between associations and members and found measures to create a more favourable and fairer business environment for enterprises.

Nearly 500 enterprises attended the conference. Most of their petitions were about building a more open business environment for business community. Thanks to such meetings, the gap between State bodies and enterprises is narrowing, creating consensus from the business circle.

Vietnamese entrepreneur day Oct 13

This was the date when Uncle Ho sent a letter to the business community 59 years ago. The idea of choosing a day for Vietnamese entrepreneurs was initiated by the VCCI, other leaders of business associations and entrepreneurs themselves, then approved by the Prime Minister. Vietnamese entrepreneur day will help encourage business spirit of all the people. It also honours the business circle so they can enhance their abilities in society.

In the coming years, celebration of Vietnamese entrepreneur day will be organised within Business Week with many events such as presenting awards and the Vietnam Entrepreneur Cup for outstanding businessmen, other activities of developing business tradition, building business culture and enhancing the abilities of businesses towards helping society.

• Lan Anh