Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the 2016 Vietnam Development Forum (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Government is workingto build a consistent and effective administrative system that facilitatesdevelopment and acts for the sake of people and enterprises, considering thisthe most important task in 2016-2020.
That commitment of the Cabinet was reiterated byPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc while addressing the 2016 Vietnam DevelopmentForum (VDF 2016), themed “Facilitating and action-oriented government – Newdriving force for development”, in Hanoi on December 9.
At this year’s forum, instead of presentingreports and prioritised orientations, Vietnam’s Government agencies sought for developmentpartners’ and experts’ viewpoints and assessments of Vietnam’s economicprospects in 2016-2020, impacts on and challenges to the national economy inthe coming years, and multi-dimensional effects of global political andeconomic situations, and bilateral and multilateral trade agreements on thenational economy.
Listening to speeches at the forum, PM Phuc said they are useful for Governmentagencies to precisely evaluate Vietnam’s situation and development prospectsamid complex and unpredictable developments in the world, thereby devisingappropriate measures to realise the set objectives and plans.
In 2016, the country’s GDP growth is expected at6.3 percent while foreign reserves are at a record of some 41 billion USD.Despite a nosedive in global trade, Vietnam still enjoys a rise of around 8percent in exports and 2-3 billion USD in trade surplus, he told developmentpartners.
Stressing the target of rapid, sustainable andinclusive growth that leaves no one behind, he agreed with the developmentpartners on their opinions about factors that can strongly affect Vietnam’sgrowth outlook such as fluid oil prices, emergence of trade protectionism,public debt payment, non-performing loans, and climate change.
Vietnam will work harder to revamp businessclimate, improve competitiveness, and have key business climate criteriacomparable to the average of Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand– four other ASEAN countries. It will also encourage innovation, start-up andprivate businesses, he said.
Another solution is pushing ahead with moresubstantively economic restructuring, and State-owned enterprises equitisationin line with the market mechanism, he said, asking the World Bank (WB),especially its International Finance Group, to help Vietnam deal withnon-performing loans which, experts said, will influence macro-economicstability and growth if they are not settled soundly.
He also called for the WB and other developmentpartners’ support to ensure social welfares, protect the environment andrespond to climate change.
Co-chairing the VDF, WB Country Director forVietnam Ousmane Dione congratulated the country on a stable macro-economy forfive straight years, deeming this as an important foundation to accelerategrowth and development.
He said to achieve the set targets, Vietnamshould perfect its market mechanism and market-oriented approach. Thesocio-economic development plan for 2016-2020 should be aimed to bring aboutgreater benefits for people. ODA capital also needs to be used in a moreeffective fashion in order to promote the private economic sector.
He expressed his belief that with theGovernment’s commitments and strong actions, Vietnam will attain ambitiousgoals, and development partners will assist it with knowledge, experience andbest practices.
The VDF 2016 is a new approach to thecooperation relationship between Vietnam and development partners. Thisapproach is derived from the Consultative Group Meeting for Vietnam and theVietnam Development Partnership Forum.-VNA
VNA
