The Government's first Resolution in 2015 carries a strong can-do spiritthat should benefit the business community, Chairman of the VietnamChamber of Commerce and Industry Vu Tien Loc tells the Nong Thon NgayNay (Countryside Today) Newspaper.
*The first resolution of theGovernment this year calls for the removal of all barriers facing thebusiness community to spur production and increase competitiveness.Please comment.
I believe that the Resolution reflects theGovernment's strong commitment to improving the business environment in2015. It shows that the Government will strictly adhere to all lawsissued last year. It will continue administrative reforms, stabilise themacro-economy and reform state-owned enterprises.
The Governmenthas also requested all ministries, sectors and localities to continueremoving all administrative barriers to businesses, encourage firms torenovate and apply new technology, and invest in rural areas.
*Thisis not the first time that the Government has issued such a Resolution.Can we expect anything different in its implementation this time?
Thereare many new aspects to this resolution. The Government issued it muchearlier than in other years, showing its interest in speeding upeconomic reforms.
In terms of restructuring and equitising ourState-owned enterprises, the Government has allowed the selling of 100percent of its stake in some sectors and State corporations. This is agood sign that will "break the ice."
There is also a clear signthat it will allow the sale of bad debts under market mechanisms,increase monitoring, enhance inspections and follow procedures onclassifying bad debts.
*With such a strong resolution, which sector do you think will experience great improvements this year?
Manysectors will improve. For instance, the Government has made clear itsintention to sell its entire stake in some State firms and in certainsectors. This was one of the issues that slowed down the equitisationprocess in 2014. Selling part of the stakes did not attract investors.
Withthis change, I believe strategic investors will be more interested.They can buy major stakes and head management boards. I believe theGovernment has understood that the situation must change and this willstimulate reform in the State sector.
*The Government Resolutionalso mentions the need to reduce ineffective public spending. This isnot a new topic. Do you think the situation will improve in 2015?
Weall know that ineffective public spending and wastefulness are bothvery dangerous. The National Assembly has talked so much about the needto tighten our State Budget. Clearly, the Government has seen theproblem and implemented many measures to solve it, including limitingpublic sector recruitment and overseas missions by public officials.
Thisresolution also says clearly that there should be no new policy orinitiative that can further strain the State Budget. The Government hasalso requested all sectors, ministries and relevant agencies to reduceand publicly disclose the cost of meetings, conferences and ceremoniesto inaugurate State-funded construction works. Most importantly, it willnot allow the purchase of new cars unless their need is clearlyestablished. Ministries, sectors and localities have been asked toreduce all unnecessary expenditures for their meetings.
*Will this Resolution lead to a revamping of the business environment?
Ibelieve that the spirit of businessmen and businesses, after a "quiet"period, will be raised. This Resolution will reduce difficulties facedby businesses and aims to radically reform our administrative systemwith the motto: "We can do it if other countries can." Now it's up tothe ministries, sectors and localities to live up to this spirit.
Iwant to stress that the pressure to integrate and reform is really highnow and everything must be accelerated. At the recently-ended sessionof the Nation Assembly, I also asked the parliament to ask theGovernment and the business community to review all legal documentsevery six months to ensure that hurdles facing businesses are removedquickly.-VNA
*The first resolution of theGovernment this year calls for the removal of all barriers facing thebusiness community to spur production and increase competitiveness.Please comment.
I believe that the Resolution reflects theGovernment's strong commitment to improving the business environment in2015. It shows that the Government will strictly adhere to all lawsissued last year. It will continue administrative reforms, stabilise themacro-economy and reform state-owned enterprises.
The Governmenthas also requested all ministries, sectors and localities to continueremoving all administrative barriers to businesses, encourage firms torenovate and apply new technology, and invest in rural areas.
*Thisis not the first time that the Government has issued such a Resolution.Can we expect anything different in its implementation this time?
Thereare many new aspects to this resolution. The Government issued it muchearlier than in other years, showing its interest in speeding upeconomic reforms.
In terms of restructuring and equitising ourState-owned enterprises, the Government has allowed the selling of 100percent of its stake in some sectors and State corporations. This is agood sign that will "break the ice."
There is also a clear signthat it will allow the sale of bad debts under market mechanisms,increase monitoring, enhance inspections and follow procedures onclassifying bad debts.
*With such a strong resolution, which sector do you think will experience great improvements this year?
Manysectors will improve. For instance, the Government has made clear itsintention to sell its entire stake in some State firms and in certainsectors. This was one of the issues that slowed down the equitisationprocess in 2014. Selling part of the stakes did not attract investors.
Withthis change, I believe strategic investors will be more interested.They can buy major stakes and head management boards. I believe theGovernment has understood that the situation must change and this willstimulate reform in the State sector.
*The Government Resolutionalso mentions the need to reduce ineffective public spending. This isnot a new topic. Do you think the situation will improve in 2015?
Weall know that ineffective public spending and wastefulness are bothvery dangerous. The National Assembly has talked so much about the needto tighten our State Budget. Clearly, the Government has seen theproblem and implemented many measures to solve it, including limitingpublic sector recruitment and overseas missions by public officials.
Thisresolution also says clearly that there should be no new policy orinitiative that can further strain the State Budget. The Government hasalso requested all sectors, ministries and relevant agencies to reduceand publicly disclose the cost of meetings, conferences and ceremoniesto inaugurate State-funded construction works. Most importantly, it willnot allow the purchase of new cars unless their need is clearlyestablished. Ministries, sectors and localities have been asked toreduce all unnecessary expenditures for their meetings.
*Will this Resolution lead to a revamping of the business environment?
Ibelieve that the spirit of businessmen and businesses, after a "quiet"period, will be raised. This Resolution will reduce difficulties facedby businesses and aims to radically reform our administrative systemwith the motto: "We can do it if other countries can." Now it's up tothe ministries, sectors and localities to live up to this spirit.
Iwant to stress that the pressure to integrate and reform is really highnow and everything must be accelerated. At the recently-ended sessionof the Nation Assembly, I also asked the parliament to ask theGovernment and the business community to review all legal documentsevery six months to ensure that hurdles facing businesses are removedquickly.-VNA
