Presentations at the event showed that Vietnam’s business environment has in the last four years jumped 14 places to 62^nd among 190 economies last year while its competitiveness increased to 55^th among 137 economies, and so has businesses’ trust and the quality of the investment environment. Michael Greene, Country Director of the USAID in Vietnam, said: “USAID will continue to support Vietnam in its efforts to improve its business environment in the coming years through two new economic growth projects totaling over 50 million USD in nine years reimbursable ODA. One would support this country with trade facilitation issues. The project will advance trade facilitation efforts by simplifying procedures, harmonizing trade administration, enhancing the skills of customs officials at both the central and provincial levels and the modernizing customs operations, particularly through a risk based approach to better monitor and manage trade flows.”

The workshop was jointly organized by the Government Office, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the World Bank in Vietnam.