Business community and public officials have learnt how corruption works
and how to combat the scourge in a more efficient manner at a workshop
in northern Hai Phong city.

The workshop was co-organised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the World Bank (WB) on March 23.

A report presented by the World Bank warned that corruption in Vietnam still remains serious.

It found out that 45 percent of the public officials who were surveyed
for the report witnessed corrupt acts, and 44 percent of enterprises
and 28 percent of citizens had to make unofficial payments. As much as
75 percent of the surveyed people said corruption was a serious matter.
 
In its report to the workshop, the Government
Inspectorate of Vietnam pointed out that light punishments given to
corrupt people is one of the reasons behind the prevalence of
corruption.

To make the fight against corruption more efficient,
the inspectorate suggested stipulating a law on access to information,
building a competent public service trusted by those who report on
corruption, establishing a corruption monitoring system, and raising
people’s awareness on the issue.

World Bank experts presented
their own solutions, including increasing transparency and publicity,
continuing administrative reform, and eliminating interest contradiction
in handling corrupt cases.-VNA