PM to hold dialogue with business representatives

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

This is the second Prime Minister Phuc chairs such kind of event since he took office, which demonstrates his determination to build a Government of action and integrity in service of bussiness in order to make businesses a real driving force of the economy.

As many as 2,000 delegates, including central and local leaders, representatives from 1,500 private and foreign-invested businesses, and will attend this year’s dialogue, Ha said.

The dialogue will focus on evaluating the implementation of Government’s Resolution No.35/NQ-CP on supporting and developing businesses issued following Prime Minsiter Phuc's first dialogue held in Ho Chi Minh City last year.

Right after the 2017 dialogue, Prime Minister Phuc and Deputy Prime Ministers will convene a meeting joined by leaders of ministries and agencies to consider and handles business recommendations. Afterwards, the Government Office, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce will co-chair a press conference to announce the outcomes of the dialogue.

Since the first dialogue, the number of newly-registered businesses rose by 16.2% to 110,000 from 2015, according to the General Statistics Office. This was a record increase.

Ha said 18 ministries and agencies and 48 localities have sent reports on the implementation of the Resolution No. 35 to organizing committee for synthesis before making public.

According to Chairman of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vu Tien Loc, 75% of surveyed businesses rated the changes in the performance of ministries, agencies and localities “positive” or “relatively positive” while 30% said changes were limited since the adoption of the Resolution No. 35.

Despite numerous difficulties, businesses said their performance was better in 2016 compared to 2015 and they spoke highly of the activeness of all levels in improving the business environment, he added.

Loc said 2016 was the breakthrough year of business environment reform, however, there were many issues that can only be settled through revision of laws.

To reach the target of one million enterprises by 2020, laws on tax and accounting should be amended to support the conversion of micro household businesses into companies.

Regarding businesses’ recommendations to the Government, Vice Chairman Ha said 320 recommendations were raised at the 2016 dialogue and 100 others collected after the dialogue. And the majority of the recommendations have been settled and the rest are being considered or require amendments to laws.

This year, the VCCI has received 200 recommendations, focusing on administrative reform and protection of businesses’ rights and interests, which have been sent to relevant ministries, agencies and locality for processing./.