Vietnam PM launches drive to slash red tape
HANOI - Vietnamese Prime
Minister Phan Van Khai has instructed
government ministries to cut red tape to improve
the business climate, the official Vietnam News
daily reported on Friday.
Khai's written directive, which took effect on
Tuesday, gave officials 15 days to deal with
delayed investment proposals and complaints
from companies, the newspaper said.
The initiative followed a series a meetings Khai
held with foreign and local businessmen across
the country earlier this year, where he heard a
litany of complaints about the difficulty of doing
business in Vietnam.
An official at the Government Office confirmed
the details in the Vietnam News report but
declined to comment further.
Khai's instruction said once the 15-day period
had expired, all officials must report the results to
the prime minister's Office. Some matters could
then be referred directly to Khai, the report
added.
The Hanoi Moi newspaper also said Khai had set
a deadline of April 30 for ministries and related
agencies to improve the foreign investment
environment.
Khai, who is in London for the second
Asia-Europe Meeting, took office last September
and has won praise for his efforts to improve the
business climate in Vietnam.
However, political analysts have said the
reform-minded Khai was constrained by
Vietnam's consensus-based politics.
Businessmen and economists have said Khai's
meetings earlier this year, where he sought to
reassure businessmen about the country's
commitment to reform, would be pointless unless
he followed through with firm action.
Khai ordered the Ministry of Trade to revise
regulations and statutes to promote export
enterprises.
He also said export licensing would be
abrogated, except for items that needed
government control, the Vietnam News report
said, without elaborating.
Khai also ordered the Customs Department to
dismiss any officers guilty of fraud.
Varying official figures show foreign investment
fell 40-50 percent in 1997 compared with the
previous year.
REUTERS - April 2nd 1998.
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