The Vietnamese government will continue strictly implementing its international commitments, completing mechanism and policies, and speeding up administrative reform in order to create transparent and favorable environment for investors, including those from ASEAN countries, affirmed Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Hanoi August 23.
In order to lure more foreign investment into Vietnam, Dung also emphasized at the ASEAN 100 Leadership Forum that Vietnam will have no discriminatory treatment towards local and foreign businesses in the country.
The forum was held in the Vietnamese capital by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Asia Inc Forum from August 22-23 to discuss economic and commercial issues in the region.
He took the occasion to inform leaders of big firms from inside or outside ASEAN nations of investment opportunities and potentials as well as trade in Vietnam, which has the second highest population in the Southeast Asian region and annual economic growth rate of 7-8 per cent. Over 70 per cent of the total population is under 40 years old, Dung said.
Vietnamese workers are hard-working, active, and creative. Social and political situation is stable, and investment environment is now more transparent and favorable, Dung added.
The Vietnamese government is consistently carrying out its external policy of being a friend and a reliable partner of all countries in the world for peace, cooperation and development, Dung affirmed.
In order to increase competitiveness among local and foreign firms in Vietnam, the government would take many consistent solutions, including completing its market economic institution, building a strong legitimate state, and fighting corruption, bureaucracy and wastefulness, he said.
Dung also urged Vietnamese businesses to raise their capability and product quality, pay due attention to training human resources, upgrade infrastructure, and renovate technology. He pledged to help local firms to effectively penetrate into the world market.
ASEAN countries now have around 1,000 investment projects in Vietnam with total registered capital of over US$13 billion, accounting for nearly 20 per cent of the total FDI capital in the country. Meanwhile, Vietnam is now carrying out more than 120 projects in ASEAN nations with total capital of US$700 million.
The two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and ASEAN bloc was over US$20 billion in 2006, up nearly 40 per cent on-year. (Website of Government)
Vietnamese
