To fully realize international, regional and bilateral commitments in the international integration process, particularly for World Trade Organisation (WTO) admission, Vietnam’s enterprises are being forced to raise their competitiveness to survive when the country’s barriers to protect its firms are either removed or weakened dramatically.
Lots of measures for this concern have been worked out and discussed, of which, both the business community and the Government’s relevant agencies have been urged to focus on the development and application of science and technology in supporting local enterprises as one of their first priorities.
Science and technology solutions – Key factors for enhancing competitiveness
At a recent meeting with the Vietnamese business community, Prime Minister (PM) Phan Van Khai asked enterprises to pay more attention to solutions on science and technology and consider them decisive factors in sharpening competitiveness during international integration. Accordingly, enterprises, scientists, research institutes and universities need to cooperate closely and give out such solutions applied in the activities of enterprises, and that is why scientists are being invited to participate in the meeting, the PM stressed. The Government approved the project on developing the technology market and issued operation regulations for State-owned science and technology organizations, therefore, the moves are legal conditions for the development of organizations in this field.
The PM also called for enterprises to actively study more about international integration issues themselves, regularly update information about integration, particularly information related to their products, to set up business strategies.
In his speech addressed at the meeting, Vietnamese firms were praised for continuously developing their human resources and paying attention to the interests of labourers, but were blamed for a lack of connection and cooperation among themselves.
Tasks of Government and organizations set to support enterprises
“First and foremost, the Government always attaches importance to building institutions and policies that are considered one of the key tasks of the Government’s activities. The number of institutions to be compiled in 2006 is very heavy in terms of both quality and quantity. The Government will have to submit more than 60 laws and ordinances to the National Assembly, and approve over 300 decrees. These documents are required to include innovative orientations and not to create troubles for enterprises,” according to the PM when discussing aiding local enterprises expand their business and investment environments, and realizing the Government’s target to have 500,000 enterprises by 2010.
The guidance for implementing the Enterprise Law and the Investment Law, and procedures of granting business licenses also need to be strengthened, to create favourable conditions for enterprises.
“Together with creating favourable conditions for newly-established enterprises, governmental bodies should continue to improve the business environment for enterprises during their business operations. In recent years, the business environment has improved remarkably but some agencies, such as taxation, customs, traffic police, and market control, still misuse administrative hindrances to make difficulties fort enterprises, causing higher business costs and limiting the competitive edge of enterprises.”
The Prime Minister expressed his hope of receiving more ideas and suggestions from enterprises to further improve the legal environment to better serve business and investment activities.
“To assist enterprises, the Government is conducting programmes on training, information supply and trade promotion. In particular, it is paying great attention to re-organising Vietnam’s science and technology research system and considers the application of science and technology in production and business activities a highly important task in the coming time. Industries, ministries, people’s committees of localities, business associations, and science and technology organizations need to effectively implement these programmes,” the PM pointed out.
The Nam
April 24–25, 2026
Kinh Bac Cultural Center, Bac Ninh Province
Vietnamese
