Resolution 19 Focuses on Improving Business Environment

Mr Truong Van Cam, General Secretary of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas), said that a lot of reforms on tariffs and transportation costs have brought positive results for the garment and textile industry. However, there are still many irregularities that cause difficulty for businesses like the rise of minimum wage increases higher than labour productivity growth, trade union fees and social insurance fee on total salary.

 

Mr Do Ngoc Thinh, Chairman of Vietnam Bar Federation, proposed the Government step up inspections and supervisions over of the implementation of Resolution 19 at ministries, branches and localities and address existing weaknesses in cooperation coordination among ministries, branches and localities. The federation will continue to accompany the Government to review and simplify administrative procedures seen to cause inconveniences for businesses and provide legal consultations and solutions to legal issues related to businesses, he said.

 

Mr Nguyen Hoai Nam, a representative from the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) recommended adjustments to some provisions to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Circular 48/2013 on inspection and certification of export seafood safety), to the Ministry of Health (Decree 38/2012 on detailed regulations on a number of articles of the Law on Food Safety), to the Ministry of Transport (transportation charges) and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (border trade policies).

 

A representative from Ford Vietnam Company suggested solutions to some specialised management issues and recommended ministries to take broad viewpoints of affected companies when they issue circulars.

 

A representative from the Vietnam Yarn Cotton Association said current phytosanitary regulations on imported cotton products (provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) are now time-consuming and cost-burdened for enterprises.

 

Mr Tran Quang Trung, Chairman of the Vietnam Dairy Association, emphasised the importance of administrative reform at State management agencies to prevention of negative expressions and harassments of civil servants.

 

Mr Le Manh Ha, Deputy Chairman of the Government Office and Deputy Director of the Standing Board of the Steering Committee for Enterprise Reform and Development, said that relevant authorities will continue to carry out administrative procedures in an open, public and transparent manner in the coming time, and tighten and regularise the supervision over the implementation of Resolution 19 by ministries, branches and localities. Recommendations from enterprises will be definitively and publicly settled.

 

Mr Michael Trueblood, Director of the Economic Growth and Governance Office under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Vietnam, said that Resolution 19/2016/NQ-CP continues to promote authority - business relations in improving the competitive environment. The Government of Vietnam’s Resolution 19 in 2016 set more ambitious goals of business environment reform in Vietnam (aimed to reach the overall level of ASEAN-4 in 2017 and ASEAN-3 in 2020). The resolution also added criteria and indicators according to international standards, continued to strengthen authority - business cooperation, appealed active engagement of enterprises in reviewing and evaluating policies and facilitate regular authority - business exchanges to eradicate emerging obstacles.

 

Finance Deputy Minister Do Hoang Anh Tuan said that not only the Ministry of Finance but also other 13 related ministries and agencies are responsible for accomplishing reform objectives outlined in the new Resolution. The Ministry of Finance will coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to realise some common goals, strengthen border customs organisation, review and clarify types of goods required for border check to improve cross-border customs clearance indicators and reduce costs for businesses.

 

Dr Nguyen Dinh Cung from the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) noted that ultimate measures, solutions and actions need to be taken to successfully carry out Resolution 19.

 

“After three versions of Resolution 19 of the Government in the past three years, we have gained a lot of experience. The spirit of the Government and the Prime Minister is drastic reform in order to build a government of creation and service to citizens and enterprises. Media, press and business community should be more actively recommended and supervised the implementation of the Resolution 19 to have highest results,” he said.