Illustrative image (Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The business community wantsstronger reform efforts at local levels, according to a recent survey conductedby the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).
Survey participants said the settlement of complaints andpetitions by local administrations was not as efficient as by ministries andcentral-level agencies.
While the business community recognised improvements in theinvestment and business environment and efforts of all-level administrations,there is much room for improvements, said VCCI Chairman Vu Tien Loc.
Loc said ministries, agencies and local administrations haveannounced many reforms and measures, but it seems to take a long time for themto have direct impacts on enterprises.
“There is still a far distance from support policy to thetarget beneficiaries,” according to Loc.
Head of the VCCI’s Legal Department Dau Anh Tuan said anumber of public servants have limited working capability and bureaucracy andharassment still exist. Problems have arisen in the streamlining of businessconditions, especially the different criteria used by ministries in decidingwhich conditions should be abolished and which should not.
The problems aside, the business community have acknowledgedthat under the drastic instruction of the Prime Minister and Government, thestreamlining of administrative procedures and barriers to business has become abright spot in the implementation of Resolution 35 on administrative procedurereform in 2018.
Remarkable progress was seen in access to electricity,business start-up, business conditions and taxation procedures.
Head of the VCCI’s Legal Department Dau Anh Tuan said manylocalities had surpassed the targets set in their commitments on administrativeprocedure simplification.
Localities with effective reforms are Dong Thap, Da Nang,Quang Ninh and Long An. Other localities have also made progress.
All localities have applied the one-stop-shop model inhandling administrative procedures and built public administrative centres atprovincial level and even at district level, while promoting the use of informationtechnology in handling many procedures related to land, construction, tax,insurance, and utilities, thus remarkably saving time for businesses.
Tuan particularly noted that most localities have switchedto receiving and handling tax declarations online, with the rate of businessesusing the services reaching 96-100 percent. Many localities hold regulardialogues in various forms between local officials and the business community,thus facilitating smooth communications between the two sides.
The cause of reform requires stronger actions in 2019, as abetter future will not be realised if there is no action, VCCI Chairman Locaffirmed.-VNA
