VCCI: Hastening Business Support Activities

In response to the Vietnamese Government’s instructions on expanding supports for Vietnamese enterprises in regional and international economic integration and with the permit of the VCCI Standing Committee, the VCCI International Relations Department carried out the business forum model in key markets such as Vietnam - China (2004), Vietnam - Africa (2005), Vietnam - EU and Vietnam - ASEAN (2006) and Vietnam - Japan (2007), Vietnam - Russia Business Council (2008) and Vietnam - US Business Forum (2009).

 

After five years, the business forum model is on the right track to exploit potential and advantages of all economic sectors. Through business forum activities, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry has gathered proposals and aspirations of domestic and international business communities to supplement VCCI’s periodical reports which were submitted to the State and Party leaders.

 

With respect to trade and investment promotion activities, business forums always focus on intensive and extensive cooperation with domestic and international partners, trade promotion centres and other agencies to exchange information, promote trade and promotion activities, and survey markets. Especially, it organised many business delegations to accompany Party and State leaders. It also combined business forums on the sideline of high-ranking diplomatic activities.

 

Understanding the importance and the necessity of building information exchange channels between State authorities with businesses and industry associations on legal issues, the VCCI Legal Department opened the website www.vibonline.com.vn since 2003. This information portal provides anticipations and plans for policy and law changes in Vietnam. On the other hand, Vietnamese enterprises, without any geographic limit, can send their opinions and suggestions to legal documents of the State. In 2008 alone, the VCCI Legal Department uploaded more or less of 144 legal drafts, posted 340 legal construction opinions and some 1,700 insight ideas. Around 70 VCCI events were posted on this website. The website Vibonline interests many people. The total visit has reached nearly 8 million.

 

At present, Vibonline is regarded as the largest legal updating website in Vietnam and is the favourite information collection channel of enterprises.

 

Provincial competitive index (PCI) ranking is another noteworthy activity of the VCCI Legal Department. This is the research launched by VCCI in collaboration with the Vietnam Competitiveness Initiative Project (VNCI) to assess and rate Vietnamese provinces and cities. Since the first issue in 2005, the PCI drew special interest and attention of provincial/municipal authorities, central authorities, business communities, investors, donor communities and the press world. The PCI research annually processes information collected from 8,000 surveyed enterprises and processed data are provided for over 3,000 provincial authorities at PCI meetings, thousands of concerned officials, and the press. PCI website is www.pcivietnam.org. 

 

The Legal Department has proactively built a business support programme in the integration process. The crucial objective of the programme is to provide information to enhance understanding of Vietnamese enterprises and business associations about the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and international trade disputes.

 

In addition to the Legal Department and the VCCI International Relations Department, the VCCI Institute of Information Technology for Business also has many support activities for Vietnamese enterprises, especially the IT application activities in the framework of the Project 191 assigned to the VCCI by the Vietnamese Government. It hosted many IT training programmes for enterprises and cooperative programmes with domestic and foreign partners to advance IT application and awareness of Vietnamese enterprises.

 

Also providing training activities, the Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Centre (SME-PC) cooperated with German Capacity Building International (INWENT) to build and deploy a programme to enhance Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises from 2006 to 2008 to expand their capacities in export and trade promotion. This programme was financed by the Germany Ministry of Economy. Beneficiaries are exporting SMEs operating in key fields like garment, textile, footwear, seafood, handicraft and IT.

 

The development of SMEs is also aimed to reduce poverty and eradicate hunger. SME PC has been executing the project "Poverty Reduction through Integrated Small Enterprise Development" (PRISED) at both central and local levels. This is seen a turning point in heightening the position of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the eyes of donors and business development support organisations. And, to advance gender equality in SMEs, the centre has carried out many projects to assist woman-led SMEs.

At present, the information demand of Vietnamese enterprises is enormous, especially in the event of deepening and widening international economic integration. Vietnam is gradually completing its legal frameworks to adapt to the market-oriented economy and the new economic situation. In addition to promoting traditional activities, the VCCI Membership and Training Department has proposed the upgrading of operating model and contents. Concerning symposiums, lecturers will be specialists, leaders of top-tier economic groups and policymakers in a bid to heighten the capacity and skill of business managers. With respect to policy exchange seminars, the department recommended that VCCI represent organisers to gather specialists and policymakers to outline develop strategies or comment economic policies, economic, commercial and investing cooperation strategies. With regard to seminars to introduce new products, services and markets, in some cases, VCCI can join hands with domestic and international companies or organisations to host introductory conferences and seminars.

The Office for Business Sustainable Development (SD4B) said the VCCI Standing Committee needs to have strategies to mobilise and attract suitable projects for concerned business communities and to provide supports for major projects. Especially, VCCI needs to express its role and voice on major economic forums or donor forums and urge the creative spirit of its staff.

The VCCI Thanh Hoa Branch said associating enterprises and business associations is one of primary activities of VCCI in general and its branches in particular. Associating contents are very diversified but the efficiency remains humble. Many business associations are only formalistic. Relations between many business associations are also not very good. Thus, VCCI should act as the clue to link enterprises and business associations.

 

VCCI functions as a counsellor to the Party and the State, not a governing body. Thus, to heighten its position in the political system and in the society, there is no other way than every staff and employee to double efforts to improve professional knowledge, promote the spirit of solidarity and working creativity, according to the Enterprise Development Institute. These factors will be prerequisite conditions to help VCCI to complete all tasks assigned by the Party and the State and to launch effective and practical activities and products for the business community.