Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has demanded the use of technological advances to modernise public administration through e-government systems, considering it essential for a better business climate.

Vietnam needs to make more of an effort in this aspect, the PM told a teleconference in Hanoi on March 26 after noting Vietnam ranked 78th of 189 economies on the ease of conducting business in the World Bank rankings, which he called a disappointing result.

He asked ministries, agencies and localities to determine processing time limits for their units, adding that the outcomes of specific reforms will be announced to the public during the Government’s June meeting.

Regarding institutional reform, the leader requested the fine-tuning of laws, policies, and socialist-oriented market economy mechanisms to create an improved legal framework.

A market economy must follow the principles of competition and operate in a fair, open and transparent manner, encompassing different economic sectors with different forms of ownership, the PM noted, making it clear that the Vietnamese economy is to be managed through tools, policies and resources in a way that ensures social progress and fairness.

When issuing legal documents, localities should evaluate its feasibility and ensure it supports human rights and the rights to freedom and democracy in line with the Constitution, he reminded.

As of January 1, 2015, the duration for processing corporate tax payment was cut by 370 hours from the initial 872 hours, reported the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Customs departments nationwide have used the Vietnam Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System and the Vietnam Customs Information System (VNACCS/VCIS) since November 2014, which has reduced the time for imports and exports custom clearance by 7.6 hours and 9.6 hours, respectively.

Vietnam is in the process of negotiating a protocol on the legal framework for the application of the ASEAN One-Stop Shop customs mechanisms and preparing to expand the ASEAN single window mechanism towards the birth of the ASEAN Community in early 2016.

The ministry is also working on a range of legal regulations for renewed policies for civil services and its staff; several new mechanisms are being piloted in the recruitment of public servants and managers and the generation of job title standards.-VNA