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P ublic - P rivate D ialogue. V ietnam B usiness F orum Pham Lien Anh VBF Secretariat PPD International Workshop Vienna, April 28-30, 2009. VBF in Brief. A joint initiative between government, the private sector, and the donor community launched in 1998
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Public-PrivateDialogue Vietnam Business Forum Pham Lien Anh VBF Secretariat PPD International Workshop Vienna, April 28-30, 2009
VBF in Brief • A joint initiative between government, the private sector, and the donor community launched in 1998 • Essential part of the government’s strategy to promote FDI • Direct link to CG process • Seven sectoral working groups • 150 reforms effected • App. US$ 240m in savings for the private sector
Note: Working relationship Establishing Supporting VBF Structure Consultative Group (CG) World Bank Vietnam Business Forum (VBF) Deputy Prime Minister International Finance Corporation (IFC) Ministry of Planning & Investment (MPI) VBF Secretariat Inter -Ministerial Team (IMT) Manufacturing & Distribution WG MPI Ministry of Industry & Trade Ministry of Finance (MOF) Banking WG State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Business Associations Capital Markets WG Ministry of Finance (MOF) & State Securities Commission (SSC) Infrastructure WG Ministry of Transport Ministry of Industry & Trade Ministry of Information & Comms. Education WG Ministry of Education &Training (MOET) Mining WG Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment (MONRE) Tourism WG Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism (MCST)/ VNAT
VBF & FDI Promotion • Strong partnership with foreign business associations and Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) • Access to the relevant government agencies through FIA to address FDI-related issues • Roundtables with central and provincial governments - Respond to investors’ feedback and sentiments - Remove obstacles to business and promote FDI projects • Inter-Ministerial team to resolve FDI-related issues, including: - Dual pricing of goods and services (electricity, water, air tickets, etc) - Cumbersome procedures in investment licensing and import export - Cap on foreign investment
VBF & FDI Promotion • Providing consultation on laws and regulations that impact FDI • Common Investment Law • Unified Enterprise Law • Decrees/circulars on implementing WTO commitments in conditional sectors • Tax laws and regulations • Helping the government in the transition to a market economy and international integration • WTO commitments’ negotiations and implementation • Tourism marketing and promotion • Legal framework for PPP in infrastructure • Master plan for seaports • Corporate governance • Consumer finance
Main Results • Unified legal framework for domestic and foreign investments and business • Helped phase-out dual pricing of goods and services between foreign and domestic enterprises • Streamlined investment licensing and approval process • Improved protections on patents and industrial design • Helped formulate vital business laws, including the Investment and Enterprise laws, the Securities Law, and the amended Labor Code • Supported Vietnam’s WTO accession/implementation • Enabled private sector savings: app. USD240 Mill. (over five years, selected reforms)
Lessons learned • Vital to have a strong link to government-donor dialogue • Be structured in communication of PPD agendas and outcomes • Build trust with government by serving as adviser • Use media to create public awareness and progress reforms • Monitor progress by Annual Business Sentiment Survey • Create strong links between PPD and other AS – Potential entry points and consultation tool for BEE projects
Major Challenges • Maintaining participation and commitment from stakeholders • Adverse attitude of some government agencies • Limited capacity of government • Balancing different interests and achieving consensus within WGs • Lack of champions in some working/sub-working groups • Mobilizing participation/contribution from domestic businesses • Building sustainability