(VOVworld) – The Vietnamese government has over the last year exerted efforts to develop an enabling government. It has strengthened economic institutions and improved the business environment. The government’s efforts have been acknowledged by businesses.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed the determination to build a righteous, enabling, working, and serving government in his swearing-in ceremony last July. The government realized its determination by strengthening efforts to improve the business environment and national competitiveness. The Prime Minister has introduced its first resolution on business development in Vietnam.

Initial results

The government has fine-tuned legal institutions, improved the business environment and competitiveness, created favorable conditions for enterprises and the public, and promoted innovations and entrepreneurship. At the same time, the government has addressed urgent social issues including ensuring the rights of citizens and enterprises. Since 2016, the Government Working Group led by Minister and Head of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung has worked with ministries and sectors to support enterprises. They have reformed administrative procedures and tackled business obstacles. Many localities have set up public administration centers and trade promotion agencies led by Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of provincial People’s Committees.

The government’s efforts to build an enabling government have been acknowledged by the public and enterprises. Economists say Vietnam has changed its mindset and methods of economic management and institution building, improved the business climate, and promoted entrepreneurship.

Economist Can Van Luc said:“We defined the term of enabling government last year. This is of great importance because we have for a long time focused on institutional reform but did not clarify the state’s role in the market and enterprises. Building an enabling government, the government created conditions for enterprises and the public to bring into play their resources.”

Consensus obtained

Despite its encouraging results, the government is aware of challenges that need to be addressed to achieve sustainable, rapid growth.  One of them is obtaining the consensus of the whole system. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has several times stressed that not only the government, the Prime Minister, and the Deputy Prime Ministers, but the whole system from central to grassroots level need to take action to serve citizens and enterprises. Doctor Professor Ngo Thang Loi of the National Economics University said: “We need to ensure uniformity in building an enabling government. This means that not only the government, ministries and sectors but also administrative agencies at the grassroots level need to work out more flexible policies based on current conditions.  Social organizations can join the efforts by bringing the people closer to the government.”