The dialogue between Việt Nam and EuroCham on administrative reforms. — VNA/VNS photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — The Vietnamese government, for years, has been focusing on enhancing administrative reforms to improve the business environment, said Mai Tiến Dũng, Minister and Chairman of the Government Office.

“Việt Nam has a young and creative labour force which has helped the economy develop rapidly,” Dũng said in the dialogue between the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council for Administrative Procedures Reform and the European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) in Việt Nam.

“In recent years, the Government has focused on promoting administrative reform so as to facilitate both people and businesses,” he said.  

Along with administrative reforms, the Government has carried out reforms to enhance the business environment.

“The government had lifted several hurdles to businesses by cutting off more than 3,400 business conditions,” said Dũng, who is also the chairman of the Advisory Council for Administrative Procedures Reform (ACAPR).

Customs and tax procedures have been also simplified to further facilitate import-export activities, he said.

“The Government has determined that administrative reforms must be continuous and committed to removing difficulties for businesses,” Dũng said.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of EuroCham Nicolas Audier said: “The dialogue showed that the Government was serious about making Việt Nam an even more attractive trade and investment environment and open to the ideas and insights of the European business community.”

EuroCham welcomed the introduction of the National Public Service Portal – a new electronic platform to better connect the Government with both people and enterprises.

“This was just one of the many recent positive developments in reforming Việt Nam’s administrative procedures, and it is hoped events like this will help support the Government along this positive path of reform in the future,” he added.

“This dialogue sends a positive signal at a crucial time in the ratification process of the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement.”

“With a vote in the European Parliament scheduled for the New Year, it has never been more important to show that Việt Nam was open for business and addressing the challenges faced by European enterprises in Việt Nam,” the chairman added.

The dialogue, which followed EuroCham’s recent mission to Brussels to advocate for ratification of the EVFTA, was a venue for business leaders and government officials to discuss the challenges of doing business in Việt Nam and solutions which can help to streamline procedures for international companies.

At the event, the representatives of EuroCham’s 16 Sector Committees – working groups of businesses in similar industries – raised their concerns with the Government of Việt Nam and received direct feedback.

The dialogue was scheduled ahead of the Government’s Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan 2021-2025 and gave European business leaders a unique chance to provide their insights and recommendations to the authorities.

The participants discussed key issues facing European businesses’ challenges of market access for goods and investment into Việt Nam including product registration, import-export procedures, and customs processes.

The challenges of circulating products in the market, with issues such as packaging, labelling, and advertisement being raised from the floor were also discussed in the meeting.

Questions on taxes, customs, and licensing were raised with the Vietnamese Government’s relevant officials.

This first-annual dialogue was the latest in a growing list of events between EuroCham and ACAPR.

Since 2017, EuroCham has been working with the ACAPR to help streamline business conditions and support administrative reforms.  VNS