The Central Institute of Economic Management (CIEM) on July 31 held a workshop on the implementation of the Government’s Resolution 19/2014/NQCP on improving Vietnam’s business environment index.

The function was organised in coordination with the Governance for Inclusive Growth programme of the US Agency for International Development (USAID/GIG).

Vietnam ranks 99 th among 189 countries in terms of the business environment, which is based on respondents’ opinions on start-up entrepreneurship, business licensing, capital access, tax payment and cross-border trade, among others.

Resolution 19/2014/NQCP, issued on March 18, 2014, targets key competitiveness indices of Vietnam equalling the average figures of six other ASEAN countries, namely Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore.

To translate the document into action, State agencies need to cut down administrative procedures and business expenses so as to improve cross-border trade, taxation and access to electricity.

At the workshop, relevant agencies, including the General Department of Taxation, the General Department of Vietnam Customs, the Vietnam Social Insurance and the Vietnam Electricity Group, pledged every effort to raise the three indices from now to 2015.

Deputy Minister of Finance Do Hoang Anh Tuan said his ministry is amending some circulars so that the procedure handling duration complies with international accounting standards.

He said the on-going tax declaration change can help cut the tax payment duration down by 201 hours.

CIEM Director Nguyen Dinh Cung said CIEM is working with the business circle to devise measures addressing challenges regarding business environment and competitiveness.

With the help of USAID/GIG, the institute will carry out action plans to facilitate foreign investment and the growth of small- and medium-sized enterprises, he added.-VNA