How do you respond to some claims that Viet Nam has been slow in releasing instructions on implementing WTO commitments?

In the near future, the MPI and the Ministry of Finance will issue detailed information to localities on WTO commitments. They are issues involving opening the market in services, with a focus on the opening of foreign enterprise branches in Viet Nam and the establishment of retail distributors. We will have detailed instructions that will ensure we carry out our commitments exactly. The decree will be submitted to the Government in July or August.

Many speakers at the forum have expressed concern about the decentralisation issue. What’s going on?

Many investors have paid attention to the process of decentralisation and welcomed Viet Nam’s policy of decentralisation in investment. There were shortcomings that prevented development in the past. When investment is decentralised, administrative procedures are handled better and quicker.

What is the capacity of local authorities to deal with big projects?

We’ve made a breakthrough with the new investment law. Local authorities will be more active in investment decisions when management is decentralised.

We have reported to the Government and they have agreed that in cases where localities lack the capacity to properly evaluate major projects, the Ministry of Planning and Investment will set up a special task force to support them.

The recent Van Phong Bay project in Khanh Hoa Province and major projects in Bac Giang and Bac Ninh provinces have followed that model. Special task forces helped solve problems and provided recommendations for local authorities.

Decentralisation help prevent cumbersome procedures and corruption and sets out lines of responsibility clearly.

How can you identify a project that exceeds a locality’s capacity?

It depends on each locality. Areas like HCM City or Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province can work with large projects worth billions of dollars. But to some other provinces, even a US$50 million project is too big enough.

At the forum, statistics about the need for seaports varied between investors and the MPI. What’s your comment?

In my opinion, the mismatch was because statistics covered different periods or weren’t updated. Also, the statistics given by the MPI were based on planned development while those of investors were based on actual projects being implemented.

But, won’t discrepancies like this affect the ability of investors to properly gauge the feasibility of projects?

No. The Government has realised that infrastructure development is an important factor to boost economic development. All investors want good infrastructure.

We are very aware of issues related to infrastructure, including roads and seaports. Seaports will be completed according to Viet Nam’s development plan on seaport systems.

There is overloading in the southern region, for instance, and the Government has planned to develop Cai Mep-Thi Vai Port to ease this problem.

How are you preparing for the consultative group conference in Ha Long?

The Government, together with investors, is setting up working groups. Those groups will discuss frankly issues of investor concern such as financial and banking systems, distribution, and infrastructure.

Currently, we are planning to set up an additional group on education and human resources development to determine human resources solutions for investors.

What was investors’ greatest concern at the Business Forum?

Investors have been focusing on Viet Nam’s reforms to fulfill WTO commitments. They have also paid attention to issues related to administrative reform and the fight against corruption.

Source: Vietnam News