Business policy overhauls lead to positive outcomes

A string of recent moves to reform mechanisms and tax and customs policies have resulted in encouraging outcomes, evidenced by a number of improved business indexes.
A string of recent moves to reform mechanisms and tax and customspolicies have resulted in encouraging outcomes, evidenced by a number ofimproved business indexes.

Dang PhuongDung, General Secretary of the Vietnam Textiles and Garment Association,said cumbersome customs and payment procedures which once hampered thesector’s exports have been simplified and processed via e-channels.

The piloted granting of certificates of originthrough the Internet, conducted by the Ministry of Industry and Tradeand the General Department of Vietnam Customs, has also helpedbusinesses save time and expenses, she said, considering the reforms asinitial steps to be expanded upon.

DeputyDirector General of the General Statistics Office (GSO) Pham Quang Vinhsaid the number of newly established companies increased significantly,demonstrating the business circle’s effective efforts and the efficiencyof measures taken by the Government, ministries, and sectors to improvethe business environment.

In the first halfof 2015, 45,406 enterprises registered for establishment with a totalregistered capital of over 282.39 trillion VND (12.98 billion USD),representing respective gains of 21.7 percent and 22.3 percent from ayear before.

The number of those suspendingoperations or dissolving was equivalent to only 5.9 percent of the totaloperational firms, much lower than the usual figure of between 12 and14 percent, data from the GSO shows.

According to arecent GSO survey, 40.5 percent of the 3,389 companies questionedperceived their business situation in the second quarter to be morepositive than the previous three months. Another 39.4 percent said thesituation remained stable while the remaining 20.1 percent reporteddifficulties.

Director of the GSO’s IndustrialStatistics Department Pham Dinh Thuy partly attributed such an upbeatsituation to the promulgation of the amended Law on Enterprises whichbreaks down regulation obstacles.

He considered 2015a business recovery period fostered by the implementation of GovernmentDecree 19/NQ-CP dated March 12, 2015 on solutions to improve thebusiness climate and national competiveness.

Threemonths since the decree’s enforcement, the Ministry of Planning andInvestment proposed the removal of nearly 3,300 business conditionsstipulated in 170 ministerial circulars and decisions, Minister BuiQuang Vinh said.

Relevant agencies also streamlined4,431 of 4,723 administrative procedures specified in 25 Governmentdecrees, accounting for 93.8 percent. A number of ministries and sectorshave also connected to the national single-window system and appliedinformation technology in handling procedures.

Business associations expect more concrete solutions from theGovernment, such as reducing taxes and rescheduling tax and chargepayment deadlines, to help them reduce input expenses. Authorisedagencies should also avoid unannounced policy changes and facilitatecompanies’ access to concessional bank loans.

DeputyPrime Minister Vu Van Ninh said the Cabinet is willing to engage indialogues with enterprises to provide support as practically aspossible.-VNA

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