The move showed their strong support for the Government’s Resolution 35 which sets ambitious targets for the economy by 2020 and focuses on creating good conditions for businesses, particularly those in the private sector.

The signatories included all 13 provinces in the Mekong Delta, five southeastern provinces – Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Dong Nai, and 14 central and Central Highlands provinces.

Fourteen participating central and Central Highlands provinces are Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Danang, Khanh Hoa, Gia Lai, Daklak, Dak Nong, Kon Tum, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan.

Vu Tien Loc, chairman of VCCI, said different provinces have different levels of commitment but all of them will follow the basic criteria required by resolutions 35 and 19 of the Government. VCCI will monitor and support the provinces to implement and fulfill their commitments.

Depending on their situations and targets, they may also have higher commitments than required by the Government. For example, all the provinces have pledged to double the number of enterprises, and shorten the time for new business registration, registration of ownership or asset transfer and tax refund by 2020.

Besides, VCCI has proposed the Government assist the provinces in searching for new approaches and initiatives to better support businesses.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Vuong Dinh Hue, Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Central Steering Committee for Enterprise Reform and Development, underscored the responsibilities and duties of leaders of 63 provinces and cities as highlighted in Resolution 35.

They include building local action programs, promptly recognizing and solving business difficulties, strictly dealing with corruption and holding meetings with firms at least twice a year.

Hue said the Prime Minister had set up a team to monitor the enforcement of the Government’s directions to deal with non-compliance, asking the provinces to take their commitments seriously.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the signing between VCCI and the provinces is an indication of the Government’s commitment to support the corporate sector.

According to VCCI, a similar meeting will take place in Hanoi with the participation of leaders of the northern provinces and cities.

At the signing ceremony, Hue urged the participating provinces to issue their action plans under Resolution 35 before September 1, as the deadline passed two months ago. He said those civil servants harassing businesses should be dismissed or transferred, instead of being rebuked only.

He also suggested VCCI and provincial authorities do research to build a set of indexes for enterprise development and support, a model for a center providing services to support and develop firms, and mechanisms for credit guarantee funds for small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Source: Thesaigontimes.vn