NPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) shakes hands with US-ABC President and CEO Alexander C Feldman (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) to help Vietnamese enterprises improve their competitiveness and advise his Government on steering the national development.
He received a US-ABC delegation led by President and CEO of the council Alexander C Feldman at the Government’s headquarters in Hanoi on August 25.
Vietnam-US relations, especially their investment and trade ties, have made progress over the past decade, he stressed, appreciating US businesses’ assistance and cooperation with their Vietnamese peers, particularly the help given through the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).
The Cabinet chief said his Government is changing its leadership style with the aim of best serving people and businesses. It is ramping up administrative and policy reforms so as to create a more transparent and proficient institutional environment which is crucial for facilitating foreign investment in Vietnam.
With those efforts, the Government expects to provide a good prerequisite for effectively implementing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement and helping companies operating in the country to capitalise on this deal, the PM said.
He noted that his Cabinet completed a dossier for TPP ratification and the National Assembly is set to consider approving this trade pact in October 2016.
On behalf of the US-ABC, Alexander C Feldman said his delegation to Vietnam comprises representatives of 37 leading businesses in the US, which proves US firms’ interest in partnerships and investment opportunities in the Southeast Asian nation.
US enterprises want to contribute to the local economic development and will ensure their social responsibility while operating here, he said.
While TPP is a milestone in promoting the countries’ trade and investment relationship, both their Governments and businesses strongly support the expansion of economic, trade and investment relations. Hence, US companies hope Vietnam will soon ratify this deal, he added.
At the meeting, many other US entrepreneurs spoke highly of the local investment climate which, they said, is being improved. They also expressed the resolve to do long-term business in Vietnam and become a trustworthy partner during the country’s development.-VNA
