The Vietnam Business Forum (VBF) took place in Ho Chi Minh City on June 1, offering a chance for business community to discuss key issues in Vietnam.
The 400 international and local officials and businesspeople gathered at the event jointly organized by World Bank’s International Financial Corporation (IFC) and the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment.
Alain Cany, chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (Eurocham) said the complicated administrative procedures and inconsistent and poorly coordinated implementation of laws and regulations is a big barrier for foreign investors.
Brian O’Reilley, an official from the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (Auscham), urged the government to set up a transparent business environment to attract foreign investors.
Chairman of American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Vietnam, Thomas Siebert said that Vietnam needs to boost construction pace of seaport and port logistics projects to meet increasing demand for cargo transport.
While Barry Akbar, country manager of APL Vietnam, pointed out three urgent issues in Vietnam is transport infrastructure developing for connecting industrial parks and seaports in the south, northern port system development and customs procedure transparency.
Participants also urged the Vietnamese government to reform tax and provide credit for small and medium-sized enterprises.
They also touched current business environment, banking and capital markets, manufacturing, distribution and tourism.
Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc said that infrastructure and human resources are the biggest problems in the country.
Phuc added that Vietnam needs huge investment for infrastructure development and also called investors to enter this sector.
The conference in Ho Chi Minh City is prepared for the Mid-term Consultative Group Meeting scheduled to open in Buon Ma Thuot city, Central Highland Dak Lak province, next week. (Local sources)
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