HÀ NỘI — Japanese enterprises raised concerns over institutions and policies in Việt Nam during a dialogue on Monday, which were then cleared up by representatives from Vietnamese ministries and agencies.

The dialogue was jointly held by the Government Office, the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform, and the Japanese Embassy.

This was the fifth dialogue with domestic and foreign enterprises organised by the council so far this year, and the first with Japanese businesses.

Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tiến Dũng, who is also president of the council, said that with synchronous, drastic, and effective measures against COVID-19, Việt Nam had embarked on the “new normal”, with rosy signs in production and business, especially industrial production and exports and imports.

The Government and the PM had promptly instructed ministries, agencies, and localities to adopt solutions in an effort to recover the national economy, promote the disbursement of public investment, and ensure social welfare and social safety and order, while revamping the operations of State administrative agencies, he added.

Dũng told the dialogue that the Government has cut 239 business conditions so far this year, and issued a document on the implementation of administrative procedures online.

He cited a report from the Ministry of Planning and Investment saying that Việt Nam’s economic growth is expected to reach 2.6-3 per cent this year. It is the only country in Southeast Asia and one of very few in Asia-Pacific to post growth.

Việt Nam is also one of 16 emerging markets most successful amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the report.

Japanese Ambassador to Việt Nam Yamada Takio also lauded Việt Nam’s efforts in the fights against the pandemic.

In the first 11 months of this year, Việt Nam’s import-export value was US$489 billion, up 3.5 per cent year-on-year, he said, stressing that the country was directly benefiting from the diversification of global supply chains.

The ambassador also commended the extensive strategic partnership between Việt Nam and Japan.

He said the key for Việt Nam’s rapid economic recovery was the resumption of commercial flights, the improvement of public investment disbursement, foreign investment attraction, and administrative reform.

The organisation of the dialogue demonstrated Việt Nam’s efforts to push ahead with administrative reform, improve the local business climate, and attract foreign investment.

According to the diplomat, of the 81 Japanese firms receiving Government support, 37 have decided to select Việt Nam as their investment destination. Fifty-five Japanese businesses will establish their headquarters in the country.

Japan would continue to support its enterprises to operate in Việt Nam, he affirmed. — VNS