Locality exchange plays part in effective implementation of plans

In the spirit of Resolution 02, January 20 is the deadline for ministries, sectors, and localities to complete the development of action programmes to implement the resolution. How do you evaluate the completion of this first mission?

Tran Duy Dong, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment

As of January 27, we received action plans from 10 ministries and 20 localities. We also see the positivity and feasibility of action programmes, which combine specific and methodical tasks and goals. Localities that have done well in previous resolutions also have their plans clearer and more specific, such as Bac Ninh, Thai Nguyen, and Danang.

The implementation atmosphere is very positive. Especially after attending a teleconference between the government and localities in early January, localities are aware of the importance of both resolutions 01 and 02.

We believe that the specific action plans, along with exchanges between localities and support from authorities, Resolution 02 will be implemented effectively, and truly come into practice, and we also feel this trust from the business community.

Although the business establishment depends on the subjective wishes of the enterprises, it also reflects their feelings on the business investment environment. How do you evaluate this?

We strongly agree with these feelings of the business. When we set the targets of Resolution 02, we also have to evaluate many factors, such as the trend of newly established businesses or dissolving businesses in recent years, and must evaluate the impacts of global issues on Vietnam, and the country’s socioeconomic development trends in 2024.

We also agree that it needs the involvement of the whole political system from the central to the localities in collaboration with the business community to achieve these goals.

To encourage businesses to participate in business investment activity and startups, businesses also need to have faith in the governance authorities. Recently, local authorities have been making efforts to improve the investment environment and create transparency in the process of resolving pending issues for businesses. Many localities still regularly maintain dialogue activities with businesses and accompany them throughout the investment and business process.

The government has also issued many policies to remove difficulties for businesses, such as land rent exemption and reduction, tax extension, and hot issues such as corporate bonds, real estate, public investment issues as well as the conversion of land use purposes.

Resolution 02 also assigns specific tasks to localities to support businesses, clarify accountability, report on the process of handling problems, and minimise duplicate inspection activities.

In general, the target of a 10 per cent increase in the number of newly established businesses in 2024 is built based on the above calculations and the reformation commitments of both the government and ministries, development trends of the world economy, and the stability of Vietnam’s macroeconomy.

Besides localities that have done well in dialogue activities, there are also localities where businesses are still hesitant to dialogue with local leaders to resolve pending problems. How do you evaluate this issue?

When having deeper participation of associations and businesses in the process of completing policies or criticising policies, it is clear that policies come into practice smoothly, and fewer problems arise during the implementation process.

We also see that associations and businesses are very actively participating in this dialogue process. For businesses that are still hesitant, we should actively encourage them to contribute opinions in many different forms, such as soliciting written opinions and providing suggestions through their associations.

Currently, the government is doing a fantastic job in receiving opinions through the associations. In recent years, the prime minister organised many joint meetings with domestic and foreign associations such as Vietnam Business Forum and private meetings with associations of each field such as real estate and logistics. In addition, there are also private meetings with associations of foreign-invested enterprises.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) always listens to the opinions and recommendations of associations, especially during difficult times. It also includes these issues in the government report and will then reflect on the issues as a neutral agency. When having objective opinions from the MPI, other ministries will have to handle specialised problems.

Do you agree that the strong involvement of businesses will create more pressure on state management agencies, making the process of amending and supplementing policies go faster?

As mentioned, businesses currently have many channels to raise their voices, and the prime minister also pays attention to their recommendations. Currently, there are also many backup units to support the government in the policy promulgation process, such the government’s Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform.

In addition, the prime minister has also established task forces (in 2023, 26 task forces were established) to remove difficulties for the business community. Each minister is responsible for managing at least two localities, and these ministers must hold quarterly meetings to hear reports on solving problems. They are also the focal point to coordinate ministries and sectors with localities to respond to opinions of businesses.

These are factors that put pressure on staff and leaders of specialised units to reform and be transparent in solving problems for businesses. In recent times, the task forces have also achieved impressive results in removing difficulties for businesses.

Resolution 02 also emphasises the MPI’s responsibility in promoting public investment. Thus, in the coming time, it will try to implement Resolution 02 to achieve the highest efficiency.

Some of the targets set out in the resolution are also quite ambitious and for the long term, such as amending laws and decrees. In addition, some goals can be handled immediately, such as fire prevention and fighting. The prime minister has also clearly decentralised functions and authority in handling issues.

We see that the MPI must be the most active ministry because it always takes the lead and has a very objective voice. The first thing is that we have established a working group to implement Resolution 02, assigning specific tasks to focal points under the MPI to both handle internal affairs and coordinate with units under other ministries to promptly resolve problems.

After Lunar New Year, we will hold a conference with ministries and associations to determine specific tasks through quarterly and monthly financial reports. After that, to implement the focus of the mission, we will also work separately with specialised associations to complete the assigned tasks.

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