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