Vietnam aims to reduce processing time for commercial disputes to 200 working days from the current 400 working days. (Source: tapchitaichinh) Vietnam aims to reduce processing time for commercial disputes to 200 working days from the current 400 working days, as the country continued with administrative reforms to improve its business environment, as stipulated in Resolution 19/2015/NQ-CP.
Experts, however, said the objective would only be achievable with a major overhaul of the country's Code of Civil Procedures at conference held last week to discuss improvements and simplifications of judicial procedures in HCM City.
Legal and economic experts recommended solutions to shorten processing time for commercial disputes including online submission of cases and the establishment of a one-stop administrative body to accept and process cases.
Former Supreme People's Court judge Tuong Van Luong said online-based solutions would not only reduce processing time and cost but also improve transparency and neutrality.
"It's crucial that courts be provided with sufficient funding and manpower to carry out the task," Luong said.
Another objective set by the resolution was to reduce processing time for bankruptcy procedures from 60 months to no more than 30 months.
Luong said there is a need for Procuracy offices to play less of a role in civil cases. He said civil and commercial disputes should require the minimum amount of State intervention. The State should only be involved in tax-related or public properties cases.
Deputy Head of the National Assembly's Judicial Affair Committee Nguyen Van Luat noted that the revised code must be carefully reviewed to eliminate procedures that were no longer appropriate.
"The process must be opened to the public so people and businesses can contribute their ideas on important matters which will directly affect them," Luat said.
Deputy Office Director of USAID Vietnam’s Economic Growth and Governance Office Laura McKechnie said the objective to cut processing time for commercial disputes in half would be challenging. She stressed the importance for all Government agencies to work together, starting with the automated handling of cases.-VNA
