Hanoi (VNA) - The Vietnamese Government, for years, has been focusingon enhancing administrative reforms to improve the business environment, saidMai Tien Dung, Minister and Chairman of the Government Office.

“Vietnam has a young and creative labour force which has helped the economydevelop rapidly,” Dung said in the dialogue between the Prime Minister’sAdvisory Council for Administrative Procedures Reform and the European Chamberof Commerce (EuroCham) in Vietnam.

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

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

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

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

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

Speaking at the event, Chairman of EuroCham Nicolas Audier said: “The dialogueshowed that the Government was serious about making Vietnam an even moreattractive trade and investment environment and open to the ideas and insightsof the European business community.”

EuroCham welcomed the introduction of the National Public Service Portal – anew electronic platform to better connect the Government with both people andenterprises.

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

“This dialogue sends a positive signal at a crucial time in the ratificationprocess of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.”

“With a vote in the European Parliament scheduled for the New Year, it hasnever been more important to show that Vietnam was open for business andaddressing the challenges faced by European enterprises in Vietnam,” thechairman added.

The dialogue, which followed EuroCham’s recent mission to Brussels to advocatefor ratification of the EVFTA, was a venue for business leaders and governmentofficials to discuss the challenges of doing business in Vietnam and solutionswhich can help to streamline procedures for international companies.

At the event, the representatives of EuroCham’s 16 Sector Committees – workinggroups of businesses in similar industries – raised their concerns with theGovernment of Vietnam and received direct feedback.

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

The participants discussed key issues facing European businesses’ challenges ofmarket access for goods and investment into Vietnam including productregistration, import-export procedures, and customs processes.

The challenges of circulating products in the market, with issues such aspackaging, labelling, and advertisement being raised from the floor were alsodiscussed in the meeting.

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

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

Since 2017, EuroCham has been working with the ACAPR to help streamlinebusiness conditions and support administrative reforms./.