Dr. Francis Hutchinson, coordinator of the Vietnam Forum, held inSingapore on Oct. 30 by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS)under the theme “Emerging Business Opportunities”, said in hisconcluding remarks that some presentations pointed to Vietnam’sadvantages as being well-located to act as a transport hub, linkingmainland Southeast Asia and southern China with the eastern part ofSoutheast Asia, and regulatory changes in relations to legal recognitionof the private sector and greater openness to trade and investment.
About 100 participants from government agencies,academia, international financial institutions and the private sectorshared views on Vietnam’s outlooks in the changing global politicaland economic landscape; explored trade and investment opportunitiesfrom the perspectives of Vietnam and foreign countries; andexchanged experiences and ideas of various socio-economic issues inconjunction with increasing business activities and connectivity in thecountry.
According to Dr. Francis Hutchinson,presenters also raised recommendations to Vietnam, includingstate-owned enterprise reform, greater transparency in regulation,increasing the quality of post-secondary education and strategic pursuitof free trade agreements.
In the view of Dr.Aekapol Chongvilaivan, fellow of Regional Economic Studies Programme ofISEAS, to further promote fruits of the Vietnam – Singapore IndustrialParks (VSIP) which are not only the hallmark of the two countries’economic relations but also a success story of Singapore’sregionalisation strategies, the Government of Singapore should rendermore assistance by providing training equipment to the Vietnam –Singapore Vocational College (VSVC) and educating VSVC staff.
He added that the Government of Vietnam should build up businessenvironment conducive to global investors, continue financial marketreform that effectively builds up efficiency and private sectorparticipation, and solve some social issues relating to poor educationsystem and income disparities.
Assistant Professor Vu Minh Khuong of the Lee Kuan Yew School of PublicPolicy, told Vietnam News Agency’s Singapore-based reporter thatspeakers at the Vietnam Forum all put forward ideas meaningful forVietnam and Singapore to study in order to elevate bilateral relations.-VNA