National Business Conference seeks ways to improve business environment

The business conference, the second since PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc took office in 2016. Photo: VGP

The conference is also attended by leaders of 63 local authorities and representatives of 200 foreign-funded enterprises.

In the afternoon, the Government will convene meeting with leaders of ministries and localities to consider businesses' recommendations presented at the conference, particularly those recommendations raised by private businesses.

At 7: 30am, PM Phuc started the conference which is scheduled to last until 1 pm.

He called on business leaders and other delegates to contribute frank ideas and recommendations on how the Government will create best conditions for the operation of businesses.

The PM stressed that despite achievements, there remained many things that we have to address to remove difficulties against business.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (middle), Deputy Prime Ministers Truong Hoa Binh, Vuong Dinh Hue, Vu Duc Dam, Trinh Dinh Dung attend the national business conference. Photo: VGP

At 8.06': Mr. Vu Tien Loc, Chairman of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented a report on one-year implementation of the Resolution No. 35 from business perspective.

He said leaders of the Government and many ministries and localities have actively joined hands to implement the Resolution.

Loc said the Government has started the "second wave of reform".

Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung speaks at the conference. Photo: VGP

According to the report, many shortcomings still remains: Some policies and mechanisms have not really facilitated business development, some ministries and agencies are still slow in processing recommendations of businesses, the role of business associations are still limited, some civil servants...

Minister-Chairman Dung named central tasks for the coming time to support business development, including continuing improvement of laws and policies, enhancing enforcement of institutions and law, speeding up administrative reforms, improving the effectiveness of handling businesses' recommendations, accelerating e-Government development, promoting the role of the Prime Minister's Task Force (which was established by PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc to inspect and supervise the implementation of tasks delegated to ministries, agencies and localities by the Government and the Prime Minister).

At 8.45’: Governor of the State Bank of Viet Nam Le Minh Hung presented a report on businesses' credit access.

Hung said credit growth expanded 18.25% in 2016. As of April 2017, credit grew 5.76% against the last months of 2016 and higher than the same periods of recent years.

He said businesses' credit demand is still huge.

The State Bank is submitting a plan to the Government and the National Assembly to promulgate a resolution on addressing non-performing loans to create conditions for businesses with bad debts to access to new loans.

The national business conference aims to seek businesses' ideas to further improve the business environment of Viet Nam as the Government considers the success of businesses its success. Photo: VGP

At 9.05': Chairman of the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Nguyen Van Tham delivered remarks on businesses' costs.

Despite reforms, businesses still have to pay official and unofficial costs (unofficial costs in land, bidding, access to bank loans, compliance with tax regulations, environment, food safety, etc are still high).

At 9.16': HSBC General Director Pham Hong Ha suggested the Government continue reform path to make Viet Nam a new "tiger" of Asia.

He talked about ideas to link foreign-funded enterprises with local businesses, called on accelerating education and training reform, and shared solutions on ways to improve Vietnamese businesses' competitiveness.

At 9.20': Mr. Le Van Kiem, Entrepreneur and Labor Hero, put forward solutions to attract foreign investment in construction of expressways; asking the Government to take measures to handle exchange rate fluctuations when investors join infrastructure projects that require long investment time frames.

At 9.25’: Ms Nguyen Thi Thanh Nga, Chairman of BRG Group suggested acceleration of reforming administrative procedures to beef up the development of economic sectors, including the private one.

She urged the Government to soon concretize the spirit of the 5th plenum of the 12th Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee so that private businesses can compete equally with other economic sectors.

(Strong and clear-cut message from CPVCC’s 5th plenum)

The Government should also legalize non-criminalization of civil and economic relations to protect the legitimate rights of businesses and encourage investment.

At 9.35': Entrepreneur Pham Van Son representing vaccine and plant protection companies suggested expeditious solutions to protect the husbandry and veterinary medicine; asking ministries and agencies to join hands in developing national farm produce and trademarks.

He also asked for planning schemes for husbandry and agriculture.

At 9.42': Ms. Thai Huong, Chairman of the TH Group suggested prompt issuance of food safety standards for each type of product, especially dairy as well as solution for prompt realization of the school milk program.

At 9.46’: Mr. Nguyen Van De, Chairman of Thanh Hoa Business Association frankly pointed out the responsibilities of local authorities for receiving and handling businesses' recommendations.

At 9.55': Mr. Tran Hong Viet, General Director of the Saigontourist talked about visa, e-visa, local-level tourism planning, human resource training, and support for tourist companies to operate in remote and border areas.

At 10.02': Mr. Le Hoang Chau, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Real Property Association suggested solutions to handle risk in the real property market and solution for the development of the market, including amendments to the law on real property business and promulgation of legal documents to handle land-related issues of equitized enterprises.

At 10.10': Mr. Nguyen Viet Cuong, Chairman of KOSY Company suggested solutions on addressing site clearance obstacles.

At 10.15': EUROCHAM VIet Nam put forward measures to create new wave of investment inflows from European investors.

At 10.22': Mr. Duong Quang Thanh, Chairman of the Viet Nam Electricity Group briefed about power supply for businesses.

He committed to continued reform of procedures to facilitate power access by businesses.

At 10.30': Ms. Dinh Thi Loan, President of the Viet Nam Retailers Association suggested solutions to RESTRUCTURE the retail market, including the development of retail groups.

Photo: VGP

The Government has made progress in reforming tax and customs areas.

At 10.43’: Chairman of the AMCHAM Jonathan Moreno suggested ideas on food safety, logistics, and the signing of customs mutual assistance agreement between Viet Nam and the US.

At 10.48’: President of the Republic of Korea Business Association in Viet Nam put forward solutions to improve businesses' status in new industries and remove non-tariff barriers between Viet Nam and the Republic of Korea.

Viet Nam and the Republic of Korea signed a free trade agreement, which took effect 18 months ago and led to significant reduction of tariff.

At 11. 30': Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung responded to questions raised by businesses.

He said the Ministry will focus on administrative reforms and listen to businesses' recommendations to improve financial policies in support of businesses.

At 11.50': Minister of Public Security To Lam talked about ensuring security and order for businesses to operate.

At 12.00: Mr. Le Minh Tri, Prosecutor-General of the Viet Nam Supreme People's Procuracy said the Resolution No. 35 demonstrated the strong determination of the central level but the lower levels' awareness of the resolution is limited.

He said administrative procedures are the top concern of businesses.

He suggested the Government focus on reviewing and reforming procedures and further foster the transparency and openness of administrative procedures.

At 12.08’: Chairman of the Ha Noi People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung pledged to pursue strong reforms to support business development through a series of solutions, including dialogues with businesses, construction of a modern administrative system and e-government, facilitation of land access, and support for business startup...

At 12.20': Secretary of Dong Thap provincial Party Committee Le Minh Hoan stressed the regular dialogues with businesses are of significant importance to timely grasp their sentiments and timely handle obstacles facing businesses.

The development of businesses is the success of localities, he said.

At 12.25’: Secretary of Hai PHong Municipal Party Committee Le Van Thanh talked about decentralization of the right to decide investment orientations to local authorities.

At 12.38’: Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Le Thanh Liem pledged that the city will take specific measures to support business development and strive to increase the total number of businesses to 500,000 by 2020.

Contribution of private sector to social investment

(Unit: trillion USD)

At 12.45’: Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh responded to questions raised by businesses, clarified issues like support for business startup and innovations, access to new technologies, and procedures for inspection of standard conformity.

At 12.53': Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh said since the National Business Conference in 2016, the Ministry has received a lot of complaints from businesses. Over the past year, the Ministry has reviewed and amended a series of regulations and promulgated 40 circulars while submitting to the Government and the Prime Minister 21 decrees and decisions.

The Ministry has also mulled over the amendments to regulations on gas and wine business and mineral exploitation, he said, adding that the Ministry will continue reforming administrative procedures and accelerating online public services, assisting businesses in market access.

At 13.02’: Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said the Ministry will strictly manage business activities with high risks of causing environmental pollution in order to ensure sustainable development.

The Ministry is now reviewing policies on land and natural resources based on the spirit of absolute reform to best serve businesses and protect the interests of people and sustainable development.

At 13.06’: Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam emphasized that most businesses face obstacles related to administrative procedures on land and tax.

He urged ministries and local authorities to enhance two-way dialogues (not one-way dialogues) with businesses and promote the role of business associations in handling obstacles faced by member businesses.

State agencies must show more determination and all public services must go online, etc.

At 13.14’: Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh affirmed that the Government will continue improving institutions to facilitate business development.

Mechanisms and policies must be in line with market rules and international practices, promote all resources and brainpower of people for economic growth.

The Governemnt will continue administrative reforms, improvement of law enforcement capacity, and strict handling of acts of harassing businesses.

Especially, the capacity of judicial apparatus will be enhanced to protect the right to ownership and business freedom.

He called on business associations to reform themselves and improve their role and voice in policy-making process.

Photo: VGP

He said an order will be signed shortly after the conference to correct inspection work (to prevent wrongdoings in inspection).

The Prime Minister reaffirmed commitment to build a healthy business environment to facilitate the development of businesses.

He said the Government is clearly aware of shortcomings and obstacles against businesses.

The Government will issue policies to ensure the equality between state and private sectors.

The Government is determined to take drastic measures to reduce businesses' costs, PM Phuc said.

A PRESS CONFERNCE is scheduled to begin at 5pm today under the chair of Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung.

By Hai Minh