"Our purpose is to support the development of the private sector," said Tran Anh Vuong, vice chairman of the Young Entrepreneurs’ Association (VEA).

The association and the Mekong Business Initiative held a press conference in Hà Nội on Thursday to announce the outcomes of VPSF 2017 and launch the White Book. 

Speaking at the event, Vương said the government had adopted measures and achieved successes in the privatisation of State-owned enterprises as proposed by the VPSF. 

Following the forum, the Ministry of Planning and Investment issued a new decree in replacement of Decree 210/2013/ND-CP on encouraging investment in agriculture and rural development in a more convenient way. 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development established a specialised trade promotion agency while the National Assembly amended the Law on Overseas Representative Missions. 

In tourism, the Ministry of Public Security extended e-visa to 46 countries and territories, instead of the earlier 40. Positive results were also seen in online tax collection, e-payment, e-customs and digitalisation in governance and training. 

The forum also offered solutions to logistics, human resources training, clean energy, trade facilitation and globalisation. 

“Each year, VPSF has a new topic. VEA is also considering the organisation of a mid-term forum from next year,” he added.

Nguyen Phi Long, chairman of the Vietnam Youth Federation, hailed VPSF’s contributions, considering it an effective dialogue mechanism between private companies and the government.

“The private sector contributes some 39 per cent to the country’s GDP. However, the government expects its contribution to be higher,” Long said.

He added that VPSF had important proposals to remove barriers in business, facilitating firms in accessing the market.

VPSF’s General Secretary Dao Huy Giam, said the White Book was the official document of the VPSF that would convey messages to the Vietnamese businesses, government agencies and international partners, which are interested in the development of the Vietnamese firms.

VNS