(VOV) – The Vietnam Business Forum opened in Hanoi on Monday under the theme “Strengthening the dynamism of the Vietnamese economy”.

Representatives from domestic and foreign businesses shared the view that business confidence has waned in recent months. A report by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) indicates that some 8,200 Vietnamese enterprises and 15,000 foreign enterprises doing business in Vietnam have no plans to expand their business in the near future. The government has proposed ways to help businesses such as reducing or deferring business taxes and helping four groups of businesses obtain credit. VCCI President Vu Tien Loc says: "In addition to administrative reform, stabilizing the macro-economy, creating a favorable business environment, and short-term measures to cut costs and help businesses obtain credit, it’s important to help enterprises improve their management skills. Improving managerial skills is also the responsibility of individual business and business associations. I suggest improving the coordination and efficiency of supportive programs for small and medium-sized enterprises and current trade promotion programs."

The forum was co-organised by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the World Bank, and the International Finance Corporation.