Prime Minister: 'Eliminating cronyism suffocates legitimate business'

The Prime Minister emphasized that it is necessary to immediately eliminate the cronyism that is stifling legitimate business activities.

On the morning of December 3, in Hanoi, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the 3rd National Congress of the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises. In the spirit of building an equal business environment among economic sectors, before delegates representing business associations and enterprises nationwide, the Prime Minister emphasized that it is necessary to immediately eliminate the situation of cronyism that is stifling the legitimate business activities of enterprises.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the Congress.

With the results achieved by the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises after more than 10 years since its establishment in 2005, the Prime Minister assessed that the Association has increasingly affirmed its position and role in gathering, connecting, supporting and protecting the legitimate and legal rights of enterprises; being a bridge between enterprises and authorities at all levels.

With over 97% of the total number of enterprises nationwide, small and medium enterprises are an important force contributing to economic growth, job creation and income; contributing about 40% of GDP, 33% of industrial production value, 30% of export value and attracting about 50% of the country's workforce. Recognizing these achievements, the Prime Minister warmly congratulated the Association on being awarded the Third Class Labor Medal on the occasion of the Congress.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister once again affirmed that the Party and State always pay special attention to building and developing the Vietnamese business community. In recent times, the Government has focused on building an honest, development-creating, decisively acting Government, matching words with deeds, serving the people and businesses. Promoting start-ups, creating all favorable conditions for businesses to develop and succeed.

Pointing out the work that the Party and Government have done, are doing and will do to develop businesses and business associations, the Prime Minister emphasized that the first and most important thing to do is to change the mindset and approach. With a new spirit and new way of thinking, the Government has directly dialogued and listened to businesses. On that basis, Resolution No. 19 on tasks and solutions to improve the business environment; Resolution No. 35 on supporting business development until 2020; and completing the Draft Law on Supporting Small and Medium Enterprises to submit to the National Assembly for consideration at the last session.

The Government has identified the core responsibility as institutional reform, policy development, and implementation of the Strategy and planning. In directing and operating, it is necessary to ensure publicity, transparency, equality, and eliminate the mechanism of "asking-giving", "approving-granting", group interests, backyards, corruption, and profiteering... There needs to be a fundamental and profound change in perception, and the economy must truly be taken as a very important driving force for economic growth and development. It is necessary to create an equal and transparent environment so that small and medium-sized enterprises have full opportunities to develop and succeed.

The Prime Minister met and discussed with business leaders.

The Prime Minister also stated that an equal business environment is needed not only between economic sectors but also within each sector, especially the private economic sector; and to build an environment of integrity.

"We must immediately eliminate the cronyism that is stifling legitimate business, eliminate the idea of ​​having good relations with the government to have better access to resources, land, institutions and hidden incentives." This is a strong message that the Government and the Prime Minister send to the business community and the business community. The State administrative apparatus is determined to innovate its operating methods with the spirit: the community and each entrepreneur, business and citizen are the subjects to be served, to enjoy the achievements and results brought about by the innovation and reform process. On this occasion, I also request that businesses and entrepreneurs say no to negativity, conduct business with integrity, and not assist in negativity and harassment," the Prime Minister emphasized.

Suggesting some points that the Association and businesses need to pay attention to, the Prime Minister said that the Association must always determine to bring legitimate and practical benefits to its members, not simply collect membership fees with poor activities and a rigid administrative apparatus; deeply participate with state management agencies to build mechanisms and policies as well as protect the rights of its members.

Regarding the development orientation in the coming time, the Prime Minister noted that the Association and enterprises need to dominate the domestic market, build brands to reach out to the world; participate in the global production, supply and distribution value chain; contribute to restructuring the agricultural sector and developing the rural economy in our country.

Faced with the trend of the 4th industrial revolution, the Prime Minister said that the Association and its members must answer the question, what must Vietnamese enterprises do to improve their capacity, to take advantage of all opportunities from the 4th industrial revolution?

At the Congress, many business leaders expressed their support for the Prime Minister's messages on building an honest, development-creating, action-oriented Government serving businesses and the people.

The Prime Minister awarded the Third Class Labor Medal to the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises.

Mr. Doan Trong Ly, Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of Livestock Processing and Import-Export Joint Stock Company, said that the Prime Minister and the Government's attention to businesses has been clearly demonstrated through specific actions. These include the Prime Minister directly having dialogues with businesses and directing leaders of ministries, branches and localities to have dialogues with businesses to remove difficulties and obstacles; issuing many resolutions to remove difficulties for businesses; drafting a Law on supporting small and medium enterprises to submit to the National Assembly...

He was also very impressed by the Prime Minister's speech at the Congress. "That is to eliminate businesses that take advantage of acquaintances and relatives to seek their own business, to find good land, to find good mines,... That is a very straightforward and honest message and at the same time makes the business community feel secure," Mr. Doan Trong Ly expressed his opinion.

On this occasion, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc awarded the Third Class Labor Medal to the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises./.

According to VOV