ON MAIN DUTIES AND MEASURES FOR IMPROVING BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND ENHANCING NATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS IN 2017 AND ORIENTATION TOWARDS 2020

According to the World Bank’s evaluation in 2016, Vietnam’s business environment is up 9 places to 82^nd out of 190 from and achieves significant improvements in comparison to ASEAN countries. This is the most advanced improvement from 20081. Those above-mentioned achievements are result of the Government and local regulatory authorities’ endless effort to improve the business environment in the past 3 years.  In spite of such improvements, most of Vietnam’s business environment indices are still far from the average score of ASEAN-4 countries or even that of ASEAN-6 countries.

Vietnam ranking in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report slipped 4 places to 60^th compared to 56^th rank in 2015 and placed behind most of ASEAN countries (6 countries), only above Laos and Cambodia2.

Vietnam ranking in the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Global Innovation Index Report slipped 7 places to 59^th  out of 128 countries (35.4 score out of 100) compared to  52^nd  out of 128 countries in 2015 and placed behind most of ASEAN countries.

Vietnam ranking in the United Nations’ e- government report is up 10 places compared to 2014 to 89^th in the world and is ranked 06^th in ASEAN region 3.

In order to keep pace with ASEAN-4 countries4, Vietnam must put an enormous effort to make breakthrough and radical reform in every sector of the economy, in terms of scale and efficiency.

1. It is expected that Vietnam’s business environment reaches the ASEAN-4 countries’ average ranking by 2017 inclusive.

- Follow The World Bank and World Economic Forum's indicators for  business environment assessment; consolidate and remain achievements in business environment and make effort to get higher scores in all indicators. Continue to make radical reform in regulations on doing business, specialized management of commodities, and import and export services according to international practices.

- At least reach the ASEAN-4 countries’ average scores of business environment indicators. To be specific:

+ Starting a business ranks  top 70 countries; protecting minority investors ranks top 80 countries; transparency and ease of access to credit ( according to the world bank’s approach attain top 30. “Ease of access to loan” indicator is expected to reach top 40 countries by 2020 (evaluated the way of the WEF’s approach);

+ Reduce time for carrying out the following formalities: Procedures for paying taxes and social insurance premiums shall be finished within 168 hours/year ( including 119 hours for tax payment and 49 hours for payment of social insurance premiums); procedure for licensing construction permit and relevant formalities shall be finished with 120 days including assessment of basic design and technical design ( issue of construction permit shall be finished within 63 days ); procedure for water supply and drainage shall be finished within 7 days; procedure for property registration shall be finished within 20 days; procedure for getting electricity shall be finished within 35 days; customs procedure for trading across borders shall be  completed within 70 hours (for exportation)  and within 90 hours (for importation); a contractual dispute shall be settled within 300 days and bankruptcy shall be solved within 30 months.

- Create incentives to start a business, create favorable, stable and creative investment and business environment for start-ups; strive to have at least 1 million start-ups in 2020 including at least 0.5% of which is innovative startups.

2. It is expected that Vietnam will attain the ASEAN-4 countries’ average scores in competitiveness indicators (according to rankings of the World Economic Forum) by 20205.

- ”Overall requirements” indicator 6 is expected to reach the minimum score of 4.8 (currently 4.5 ).

- ”Efficiency” indicator 7 is  expected to reach the minimum score of 4.4 (currently 4.1 ).

- ”Innovation and business sophistication” indicator 8 is expected to reach the minimum score of 3.8 (currently 3.5 ).

3. It is expected that the “innovation “indicator will reach the ASEAN-5 countries’ average score by 2020 according to the WIPO9.

- ”Institutions” indicator 10 is expected to reach the minimum score of 55 ( currently 51.7 ).

- ”Resources and Research” indicator 11 is expected to reach the minimum score of 31 (currently 30.1).

- “Infrastructures” indicator 12 is expected to reach the minimum score of 43 (currently 36.7 ).

- “Market development” indicator 13 is expected to reach the minimum score of 51 (currently 43.0 ).

- “Business development” indicator 14 is expected to reach the minimum score of 35 (currently 30.6 ).

4. As for e-government (according to the United Nations’ approach):

- Carry out radical reforms in 03 following indicators: Telecommunication Infrastructure Index (TII), Human Capital Index (HCl) and Online Service Index (OSI);
Strive to attain 80^th by 2017 inclusive and reach the ASEAN-5 countries’ average score  and minimum ranking at 70^th in the world in 2020 15.

- Strive to attain the 3^rd  ranking in common public services serving demands of majority of citizens and enterprises; provide online public services in fee payment, receipt and transfer of application results at the 4^th ranking by 2017.

5. Specific duties and their indexes and indicators are specified in Annexes attached hereto.

1. Every Minister, Head of Ministerial-level agencies, Governmental Offices, President of People’s Committees of provinces shall be accountable to the Government and Prime Minister for results of indices stipulated in Annexes attaches hereto and direct to:

a) Develop and complete action plans and programs for implementation of the Decree No.19-2017/NQ-CP before January 28, 2017 which assign responsibilities to each entity and specify  implementation schedule of each duty which is assessed by index specified in Annexes attached hereto.

b) The Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Information and Communications shall direct regulatory authorities and People’s Committees of provinces to actively do and complete study on the methods of calculation and meaning of ranking indexes; punctually provide information for international organizations as the foundation for evaluation and ranking before March 31, 2017. 

Ministries and authorities assigned to take on responsibilities for improving specific indexes shall take charge of and cooperate with relevant regulatory authorities and the People’s Committees of provinces in measures for improvement, and request the Prime Minister to give directions, where necessary.

c) The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall play a leading role in monitoring of improvement of business environment and national competiveness. The Ministry of Science and Technology shall play a leading role in monitoring of improvement of innovation. The Ministry of Information and Communications shall play the leading role in monitoring of e-government.

These above-mentioned Ministries playing the leading role in specific aspects shall:

- Take charge of, accelerate  and inspect implementation of duties and measures for improving indexes of assigned fields carried out by regulatory authorities and the People’s Committees of provinces.

- Aggregate index improvement results; submit proposals and reports on policies, mechanism, measures and duties for improving assigned indexes.

d) Specialized regulatory authorities and Ministries  managing imports and exports shall promptly perform duties and take measures for radically reforming specialized management and inspection of imports and exports according to the Government and Prime Minister’s Directions in the Resolution No. 19/NQ-CP dated March 12, 2015, Resolution No.19-2016/NQ-CP dated April 28, 2016, the Prime Minister’s Decision No.2026/QD-TTg dated November 17, 2015 on approval for measures for improving effect and efficiency of specialized inspection of imports and exports.

In the first quarter of 2017, issue a list of imports and exports undergoing the specialized customs inspection towards reducing inspection, time and  simplifying procedures ; focus on post-clearance audit ; review and amend regulations on receipt of declaration of conformity of imports and exports towards annulling or simplifying procedures; do not receive declaration of conformity of imports and exports not governed by any national regulation; instruct domestic conformity assessment bodies to intensively and proactively recognize the foreign conformity assessment bodies’ conformity assessment results  of goods governed by technical regulations and standards which are higher than that of Vietnam; separate conformity assessment activities from State management activities  as stipulated in the Law on goods quality and relevant laws following that the State management authorities will not issue certificates of conformity to regulations/standards in case of specialized inspection.

Boost certification of conformity in the export countries and focus on post-clearance audit of imports.

Introduce online procedures for specialized inspection ( submission of applications and result release, etc.); create networks for transferring information between specialized inspecting authorities via the national single-window system and ASEAN single-window system in order to reduce time for  specialized inspection procedures.

Amend regulations on fees for specialized inspection, ensure the transparency of methods of cost calculation and identification of fee payers, and gradually apply price mechanism.

dd) Continue to develop and operate the portal for receipt of complaints and processing and publishing of administrative results, and increase the efficiency of such portal; publicly receive and resolve complaints. The Heads of regulatory authorities and people’s Committees of provinces shall duly follow regulations on accountability and address citizens and enterprises’ complaints.

Effectively implement the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 45/2016/QD-TTg on receipt of applications and release of administrative results via public postal services dated October 19, 2016.

e) Effectively apply single-window systems, interconnected single-window system and information technology to  carry out administrative procedures, provide online public services and e-government; apply the ISO quality control system to State administrative organizations and authorities; create national database systems, give priority to establish national population, land and enterprise database systems;  encourage to lease information technology services for purpose of operation of State authorities, outsource payment-related services ; offer training in information technology, and give priority to develop specialized information security equipment and products.

g) Exert disciplines and assign responsibilities for implementing this Resolution to heads of authorities:

- Frequently inspect and supervise the progress and results of implementation of the action plans for implementation of the Resolution No.19-2017/NQ-CP.

- Strictly comply with report regime. Before 15^th of the last month of every quarter and before 15^thof December, aggregate and submit status quarterly and annual reports to the Office of the Government and the Ministry of Planning and Investment for aggregation and submission to the Prime Minister in government monthly or annual meetings

- The Government shall assign several authorities and organizations to independently carry out assessment and supervision of achievements of local regulatory authorities according to national standards and results of implementation of sustainable development action  plan and Vietnam 2035 report .

- Impose penalties on entities that are irresponsible and have acts of harassment to citizens and enterprises.

- Seriously and effectively implement the Prime Minister’s Directive No.13/CT-TTg dated June 10, 2015 on  responsibilities for administrative reform of heads of State administrative agencies of all levels.

2. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall:

- Conduct monitoring and supervision of compliance  with regulations of the Law on Investment, law on Enterprises and guidance documents. Instruct, inspect and accelerate regulatory authorities to monitoring the enforcement of laws on investment and business; promptly find out loopholes and real issues related to regulations in order to make amendment, supplementation or issue new regulations.

- Take charge of and cooperate with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs , Social Security Administration of Vietnam to raise the ranking and score in  “starting a business” and “protecting investors”, carry out assessment of conditional and unconditional business lines.

- Take charge of and cooperate with the Supreme People’s Court,  compile and submit amendment and supplementation to the Government’s Decree No. 22/2015/ND-CP dated February 16, 2015 detailing a number of Articles of the Law on Bankruptcy in order to  improve the bankruptcy index.

- Take charge of and cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, the Office of the Government and relevant authorities in amendment and supplement to  a number of Decrees in order to resolve difficulties in business and investment, create connection between procedures for land, construction, bidding and environment.

- Consider introducing online procedures for  publishing enterprise information, changes in business registration and seals on the business registration national portal.

- Publish the list of enterprises which have been undergoing bankruptcy procedures via the business registration national portal.

- Enhance the effectiveness of construction bidding management. Boost online bidding according to the Prime Minister’s roadmap.

- Cooperate with the Ministry of Justice in publishing  of the list of asset management officials.

- Enhance the capacity to analyze private sector-related policies , especially policies affecting enterprises’ business.

- Aggregate and submit status reports on implementation of this Resolution to the Government in regular meetings held in the last month of every quarter and by the end of year.

3. The Ministry of Finance shall:

- Apply information technology to at least 95% of work such as submission of tax declaration and tax payment.

- Publish tax refund database, check 100% of tax refund records and punctually and duly resolve 100% taxpayers’ complaints.

- Specify tax administration policies by level of risks and compliance with laws by taxpayers, determine the validity of economic transaction on the basis of payment transactions.

- Cooperate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment in development of an automated system granting TIN to enterprises.

- Apply information technology to management of imports and exports, ensure information transfer between specialized management authorities and the General Department of Customs and National Single-window Portal. Take charge of and expedite regulatory authorities to successfully perform related duties specified in the master plan for implementation of national single-window system and ASEAN single-window in period 2016 – 2020 issued together with the Prime Minister’s Decision No.2185/QD-TTg dated November 14, 2016.

- Take charge of and cooperate with relevant authorities in enhancement of efficiency of specialized inspection procedures at check points where have a large quantity of imports and exports and those under the specialized inspection prior to clearance.

- Upgrade and complete risk management mechanism, sort out goods before reaching ports to facilitate customs clearance or release goods as soon as they arrive the ports.

- Continue to complete and enhance the effectiveness of e-customs clearance systems, cooperate with relevant entities and enterprises operating in logistics, insurance and other relevant services in creation of connection for commercial information exchange. Publish criteria for assessment of enterprises’ obedience to laws; amend legislative documents related to automated electronic customs clearance and ensure the harmony of those systems.

- Cooperate with the Ministry of Construction in management, supervision, examination and inspection of implementation of professional liability insurance for construction activities.

- Accelerate State-owned property assessment before transferring it to public service providers for management according to the capital transfer mechanism stipulated in the Government’s Decree No. 02/2016/ND-CP dated January 06, 2016 on amendment and supplement to the Government’s Decree No.52/2009/ND-CP dated June 03, 2009 detailing and guiding a number of Articles of the Law on management and use f State-owned property.

4. The Social Security Administration of Vietnam shall:

- Review documents and simplify procedures for declaration of revenues and spending, and issue  social insurance and health insurance cards.

- Apply information technology, create network between social securities administration in 63 provinces, create a centralized social insurance database, introduce online procedures for declaration, payment and reimbursement of social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance. Consider issuing electronic health insurance cards and integrate social insurance and unemployment insurance information into an electronic card.

- Improve the effectiveness of assessment of health insurance, create digital connection between hospitals and clinics; ensure punctual and correct health insurance reimbursement.

- Develop processes and procedures for inspection and examination of enterprises’ social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance. Cooperate with the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and local governments in determination of the power and cooperation regime for inspection.

5. The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall:

- Review and expedite specialized management authorities to release the list of goods under specialized inspection as stipulated in the Government’s Decree No. 187/2013/ND-CP dated November 20, 2013.

- Effectively implement the Circular No. 24/2016/TT-BCT on reduction of electricity access time dated November 30, 2016 by the Ministry of Industry and Trade ; standardize the national electricity access process towards applying “interconnected single-window system” to State authorities and electricity groups to carry out procedures for “agreement on electrical lines, position of utility pole/substations, electrical poles and corridors ( including permits to dig roads and pavement).

- Review, research, amend and supplement the Prime Minister's Decision No. 35/2015/QD-TTgdated August 20, 2015 on issue of the list of essential goods and services for which  general transaction conditions and sample contracts are applied towards eliminating a number of banking services ( including domestic debit cards, payment accounts for individuals and personal loans for consumption) from the List  for the purpose of removal of unnecessary administrative procedures and reduction of costs for credit institutions and  creation of the unanimity about state management authorities in charge of credit institutions' services.

- Submit the draft law on competition ( amended) to the National Assembly before December 2017, ensure fair competition, effectively control monopoly and business dominance. Punctually address complaints about abuse of monopoly business dominance and centralization and completion restriction agreements, and detect and dealt with violations against laws on competition.

- Submit a draft policy framework in commerce to the National Assembly for the purpose of amendment to the Law on commerce before December 2017.

6. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall:

- Before June 2017, radically resolve difficulties arising from a number of regulations of the Circular No. 48/2013/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 12, 2013 on  percentage of sample and method of shipment sampling for inspection; deadline for completion of the list of prioritized enterprises from the date on which such enterprises are assessed satisfactory; deadline for re-issue of the certificate of food safety.

- Study, amend and supplement regulations on enterprise  and product ranking in specialized management and inspection of imported fisheries as stipulated in the Circular No. 26/2016/TT-BNNPTNT dated June 30, 2016 on principle for risk management and priorities.

- Take charge of and propose to amend and supplement regulations on specialized inspection and management of imports and export as stipulated in the law on plant protection and quarantine and law on veterinary towards applying management methods on the basis of risk of goods and compliance with laws by enterprises.

- Take charge of reviewing and cooperate with the Ministry of Science and Technology in issue of List of group-2 goods within the management of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development  undergoing quality inspection prior to clearance and their HS code for the purpose of issuing, amending, supplementing or replacing the Circular No. 30/2010/TT-BNNPTNT dated August 30, 2010 and Circular No.50/2009/TT-BNNPTNT dated August 18, 2009; consider putting low-risk goods through post-clearance inspection.

7. The Ministry of Science and Technology shall:

- Take charge of researching and propose amending and supplementing regulations related to imports and exports quality control stipulated in the Law on product and goods quality and the Law on technical regulations and standards towards managing on the basis of level of risks and compliance with regulations of laws by enterprises and sharply shifting to post-clearance audit.

- Request the Prime Minister to consider annulling the Decision No. 50/2006/QD-TTg dated March 7, 2006  on issue of the list of goods and products undergoing quality inspection as the Ordinance on goods quality and Decree No.179/2004/ND-CP  pursuant to which the Decision is introduced are no longer valid.

- Take charge of and cooperate with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and specialized management authorities in review and abrogation or request for abrogation and amendment to regulations of certification of conformity, regulations on quality control which are unconformable to the Law on technical regulations and standards, the Law on quality of goods and products and law on food safety towards eliminating unnecessary administrative procedures, reducing time for conducting administrative procedures related to imports and exports, and focusing on post-clearance audit.

 Study, amend and supplement the Circular No. 23/2015/TT-BKHCN dated November 13, 2015 on import of used machinery, equipment, and technology lines by: Cooperating with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and specialized management authorities in creation of criteria for import ofmachinery and equipment by used lifetime (calculated from year of manufacture to year of import), do not limit the used lifetime of 10 years for all machinery and equipment.

- Create and develop national innovation systems, innovation centers and technology incubators.

- Submit quarterly and annual reports on  improvement of “innovation”  indicators and indexes to the Ministry of Planning and Investment  for submission to the Government at the quarterly and annual meetings.

8. The Ministry of National Defense shall:

Abrogate regulations stipulating that border guards shall inspect and supervise imports, exports and import-export records prescribed in Article 12 of Circular No. 09/2016/TT-BQP  ensure the conformity with the Law on Customs; study and propose to amend Article 9 of the Ordinance on border guards.

9. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall:

- Create and connect electronic networks to carry out administrative procedures for issue of the certificate of land use right, grant of land, land lease, land registration, certificate of construction works ownership and procedure for determination of land-related financial liabilities.

- Review, amend and supplement regulations on land towards reforming administrative  procedures, reducing time for issue of certificate of construction works ownership.

- Intensify examination and inspection of compliance with regulations on announcement of vacant land, land which has yet to be leased or sublet in industrial zones, industrial clusters, processing, exporting zones and economic zones, and land granted or leased from the State but has yet to be used. Facilitate lease/receipt of land by enterprises, especially SMEs.

- Study, amend and supplement regulations  related to examination and inspection of environmental protection towards managing by level of risks of environmental pollution caused by manufacturers and business facilities.

- Provide specific guidance on application for scrap import as stipulated in the Circular No. 41/2015/TT-BTNMT dated September 9, 2015 in case of issue of certificates of eligibility for import of scraps as production materials.

- Apply interconnected mechanism for inspection and certification of environmental protection programs in period of operation or acceptance of project towards establishing inter-sectoral teams in charge by the State management authorities, except for programs required to undergo commissioning.

10. The Ministry of Justice shall:

- Punctually assess projects and draft legislative documents, supervise and expedite Ministries and Ministerial-level agencies to compile documents detailing implementation of laws, ordinance, decree or the Prime Minister’s Decision related to business and investment.

- Cooperate with the Supreme People’s Court in completion of legislative documents related to enforcement of the 2015 Code of Civil Procedure, accelerate settlement of contractual disputes towards simplifying  procedures and record contents and , removing unnecessary procedures and documents, reducing time and costs of settlement of commercial disputes.

- Consider issuing or propose to issue regulations on commercial mediation and establish mechanism for dispute settlement via commercial mediation.

- Promote the development of asset management officers, arbitrators, lawyers, especially commercial lawyers.

11. The Ministry of Home Affairs shall:

- Continue to implement the State administrative reform master plan in period 2011- 2020 and administrative reform plan in period 2016 – 2020; scheme for strengthening the capacity of officials in charge of administrative reforms and scheme for measuring the satisfaction in State administrative agencies’ services.

- Intensify the examination and inspection and take actions against acts of harassment related to administrative procedures.

12. The Ministry of Transport shall:

- Apply management models by level of risks of goods and compliance with laws on specialized inspection and management by enterprises.

- Simplify administrative procedures, create online connection to the national single-window portal to facilitate receipt and release of specialized inspection results.

- Take charge of and cooperate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Construction in review, amendment and supplementation to procedures for agreement on utility pole or electrical pole and electrical grid corridors, and issue of the construction permit in case the electrical works is located, in whole or in part, in  the land plots for construction works prescribed in the Government’s Decree No. 11/2010/ND-CP dated February 24, 2010 on management and protection of road infrastructures.

13. The Ministry of Construction shall:

- Continue to review and reform administrative procedures for issuing the construction permit, step up  application of information technology, reduce time for issuing the construction permit ( including assessment of basic design, technical design and issue of the construction permit).

- Take charge of and cooperate with relevant regulatory authorities to maintain and strengthen  quality control including control of the effect of construction regulations;  assure the quality prior to construction and after construction, define legal liabilities of every subjects after construction, manage and issue practice certificates and certificate of competency in construction.

- Cooperate with the Ministry of Public Security  in research and proposal for combination of the procedures for assessment of fire safety design  with procedures for assessment of projects and construction design; cooperate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in issue of the certificate of construction works ownership. Cooperate with the Ministry of Finance in management, supervision, examination and inspection of implementation of professional liability insurance for construction activities.

- Resolve difficulties enterprises encounter when going through procedures for issue of the construction permit as stipulated in the Government’s Decree No. 59/2015/ND-CP dated June 18, 2015 on construction project management.16

Review and reform administrative procedures and regulations related to clean water supply and production towards giving permission for involvement of private sectors, simplify administrative procedures, reduce time for conducting such procedures and introduce online procedure for negotiation, connection, water supply and drainage.

- Take charge of and cooperate with the Ministry of Public Security in acceptance of construction works and fire safety works.

14. The State bank of Vietnam shall:

- Take measures for improvement and transparency of credit information; facilitate and promote the equality between entities of all economic sectors in access to credit loan capital according to market mechanism.

- Cooperate with the Ministry of Finance and relevant regulatory authorities in development of  assistance policies for financial service development.

- Direct commercial banks and credit institutions to cooperate with the Social Security Administration of Vietnam in e-payment related to social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance.

15. The Ministry of Education and Training shall:

- Complete policies on improvement of educational institution quality.

- Give educational institutions the financial autonomy  and academic autonomy ; facilitate provision of education services according to market mechanism under the strict output control.

- Establish mechanism and promote inspection of education quality.

- Boost application of information technology to teaching and learning in educational institutions.

16. The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs shall:

- Enhance the efficiency of labor market, ensure the harmony and flexibility of the labor market. Facilitate recruitment and employment.

- Continue to review, amend and supplement social insurance policies; cooperate with Social Security Administration of Vietnam in research and assessment of the social insurance revenue and spending,  make proposals for amendments to regulations of laws to ensure the effect of such policies, and give incentives to enterprises.

- Set up  procedures and requirements for establishment and operation of non-public vocational education institutions; annul or propose to annul inappropriate procedures and requirements; give incentives and facilitate involvement in vocational training by domestic and foreign private sectors and social organizations.

- Innovate vocational training mechanism and policies towards giving the academic autonomy and financial autonomy.

- Connect to the Social Security Administration of Vietnam’s database to provide online transactions related to unemployment insurance.

- Cooperate with The Ministry of Education and Training and relevant regulatory authority in completion and submission of the Resolution on vocational education quality control to the Government.

17.  The Ministry of Information and Communications shall:

- Check the list of goods under the management of the Ministry of Information and Communications issued together with the Circular No. 15/2014/TT-BTTTT on issue of list of goods sorted by HS code the dated November 17, 2014, annul all goods under the specialized management of the Ministry of Information and Communications by  code as stipulated in the Government’s Decree No. 187/2013/ND-CP  dated November 20, 2013 detailing the law on commerce regarding  international trading and agencies purchasing, selling, processing and transiting goods to foreign countries.

- Review and propose to amend the Government’s Decree No. 60/2014/ND-CP on printing dated June 19, 2014 by clarifying subjects governed by these amendment. Abrogate  regulations which restrict the enterprises’ business freedom ( such as restrictions on cooperation between printing facilities; licensing to import post-printing processing machines; regulations stipulating that every head of printing facility must hold an associate degree in printing; regulations on licensing to foreign printing contracts, etc.).

- Study and propose measures for promoting information technology- telecommunication start-ups.

- Submit quarterly and annual reports on  improvement of e-government  to the Office of the Government and the Ministry of Planning and Investment  for submission to the Government at the quarterly and annual meetings.

18. The Ministry of Health shall:

- Cooperate with regulatory authorities in summary and assessment of results of implementation of the Law on Food Safety and proposals for amendments and supplement to the Law on Food Safety and renovation in specialized inspection of imported and exported food in accordance with international practices.

- Examine and adjust the authority of the authorities receiving applications and issuing receipts of declaration of conformity and certificate of conformity to food safety regulations to imports and exports as decentralized to local specialized authorities.

- By the first quarter of 2017, prepare and submit draft amendments and supplement to the Government's Decree No. 38/2012/ND-CP dated April 25, 2012 detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Law of Food safety as directed in the Resolution No.103/NQ-CP dated December 05 by the Government.

- Direct medical facilities to connect to the Minister of Health and Social security Administration of Vietnam to carry out online procedures for state management of health insurance and inspection and payment of covered medical expenses.

19. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall:

- Step up political advocacy and diplomacy to boost the process of recognition of Vietnam’s market regulations, ease of investment and trading, and protection of Vietnamese enterprises' interest in international commercial disputes.

- Cooperate with relevant regulatory authorities in assistance localities and enterprises in  improving the capacity to accelerate international integration; disseminate information on international integration, especially commitments in new generation free-trade agreements for the purpose of harmonized implementation.

- Enhance the relevant authorities’ capacity to update international regulations on investment and business; enhance the capacity to settle disputes over international trade to protect domestic enterprises' legal interests.

- Perform duties and take proper measures related to action programs for implementing the Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW on economic integration and stabilization of socio-economic situation under free-trade agreements dated November 05, 2016 by the XII Central Committee of the Communist Party.

- Cooperate with the Office of the Government in improvement of efficiency of the National Steering Committee for international integration, business environment and enhancement of national competitiveness.

20. The Ministry of Public Security shall:

Take charge of and cooperate with the Ministry of Construction in examination, amendment and supplement to regulations on fire protection and prevention towards reforming administrative processes and procedures for assessment of fire safety; consider proposing to combine the procedures for assessment of fire safety with assessment of construction design, and ensure assessment accuracy.

21. The Ministry of Information and Communications, Vietnam News Agency, Voice of Vietnam and Vietnam Television shall cooperate with the Central Propaganda Department and regulatory authorities in communications, disseminate and raise people awareness of this Resolution. Facilitate monitoring and supervision of implementation of this Resolution by press agencies and media agencies.

22. The Office of the Government shall improve the efficiency of the Government’s portal forum for enterprises and citizens’ feedback on policies. Cooperate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment in inspection of implementation of the Resolution and report to the Government at regular meetings by the end of each quarter, month and year. The results of implementation of this Resolution may affect the assessment of performance of regulatory authorities in December every year at the Government’s regular meeting. Apply single-window systems and interconnected single-window systems; control and carry out administrative reform; review the list of public services of level 3 and level 4.

23. Every People’s Committee of provinces shall:

- Harmoniously and fully implement reforms stipulated in the Law on Enterprises and  Decrees providing guidelines for starting a business and enterprise registration certificates. The business registration authority shall take charge of and cooperate with tax authorities, employment authority and social security administration in procedure combination for reducing time for starting a business.

- Apply the interconnected single-window system, simplify and introduce online procedures and reduce time for issuing the construction permit , registering property ownership registration and  conducting relevant formalities. Clarify as-built documents and facilitate registration of property derived from construction. Make administrative procedures related to property registration publicly available. Direct water supply and drainage companies to provide harmonized connection process for individual and organization customers; introduce online procedure for registering connection; reduce time for connection to 7 days.

- Apply interconnected single-window systems and single-window electronic systems for dealing with taxes, fees and charges; cooperate to carry out administrative procedures  related to land and determination of financial liabilities for land.

- Duly comply with regulations and policies on social insurance and health insurance; simplify  procedures and required documents; conduct online procedures for declaration and payment and resolve issues related to social insurance and health insurance.

 Carry out judicial administrative reforms in accordance with the 2015 Civil Procedure Code and 2014 Law on Bankruptcy; reduce time and improve law enforcement as required in the Resolution; assist operation of courts, law enforcement agencies,  bailiffs and lawyers; increase the quantity and enhance qualifications of asset management officers and enterprises operating in asset management and liquidation in the localities; completely and punctually provide information on lawyers, asset management officers  and enterprises operating in asset management and liquidation in the localities.

24. Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vietnam Lawyers Association, Vietnam Bar Federation, enterprise associations and occupational association shall:

- Carry out independent surveys and assessment of efficiency of  administrative procedures and give advices to the Government . Study credit rating of regulatory authorities by enterprise community.

- Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry shall improve the provincial competitiveness ;support and instruct the people’s Committees of provinces to combine duties specified in the Resolution No.19 with improvement of provincial competitiveness index.

- Collect feedback on administrative procedures,  policies and  difficulties in implementing administrative procedures enterprises and investors encounter,  report such difficulties to the competent authority to punctually address and make such feedback publicly available via means of media; aggregate and submit reports of the National Council for Sustainable Development and Competitive Improvement and Office of the Government to the Prime Minister.

- Cooperate with regulatory authorities and enterprise associations in development of enterprise incentive  programs and competitive strategies, application of science and technology, enhancement of productivity,  brand building and social responsibilities for gradual improvement of business sophistication and competiveness of enterprise community.

- Cooperate with regulatory authorities and enterprise associations in assistance in development and implementation of sustainable development, competitiveness improvement and international integration of Vietnamese enterprises.

- Cooperate with regulatory authorities in development and implementation of programs for improvement of Vietnamese enterprises’ operational capacity.

25. The Advisory Board of the Prime Minister’s administrative reform shall take charge of and cooperate with relevant regulatory authorities, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, enterprise associations and occupational associations in establishment of criteria for assessment of administrative reform carried out by local regulatory authorities; conduct periodic assessment , surveys and researches on administrative reform carried out by  regulatory authorities, and submit reports and proposals to the Government and Prime Minister.

26. The Judges’ Council of the Supreme People’s Court shall pass guidelines for implementation of the Civil procedure code and 2014 Law on Bankruptcy as soon as possible.

- Consider applying one-stop justice system to high-level courts; apply simplified legal proceedings to low-valued cases; complete the e-court system model, apply online procedures for receipt of petitions, document transfer and notification of proceedings and trail schedule, and resolution of insolvency to local courts.

- Consider developing assistance mechanism for arbitration and commercial mediation such as: (i) restriction on intervention in arbitral awards ; (ii) ease of recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards; (iii) recognition of mediators’ decision outside the court.

- Be more professional in resolving commercial disputes and bankruptcy; make courts’ lawsuit settlement process and verdicts publicly available.

- Provide the Ministry of Planning and Investment with information on enterprises which have been going through bankruptcy procedures for publishing on the business registration national portal.

27. The Supreme People’s Procuracy shall cooperate with the Ministry of Public Security and relevant regulatory authorities in establishment of mechanisms for ease of operation of civil judgment enforcement authorities and civil courts./.

 

 

KEY MISSONS IN 2017
(Issued together with the Government’s Resolution No.19-2017/NQ-CP dated February 06, 2017)

 

REGULATORY AUTHORITIES’ RESPONSIBILITIES FOR BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT (USING WORLD BANK’S APPROACHES) 
(Enclosed with the Government's Resolution No.19-2017/NQ-CP dated February 06, 2017)

 

REGULATORY AUTHORITIES’ RESPONSIBILITIES FOR COMPETITIVENESS ENHANCEMENT (ACCORDING TO WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM’S APPROACHES) 
(Enclosed with the Government's Resolution No.19-2017/NQ-CP dated February 06, 2017)

REGULATORY AUTHORITIES’ RESPONSIBILITIES FOR INNOVATION 
(Enclosed with the Government's Resolution No.19-2017/NQ-CP dated February 06, 2017)

REGULATORY AUTHORITIES’ RESPONSIBILITIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF E-GOVERNMENT (USING THE UNITED NATIONS’ APPROACHES) 
(Enclosed with the Government’s Resolution No.19-2017/NQ-CP dated February 06, 2017)