Australian CEO comments on Party Resolution

Not only attending the meeting to implement the Party Resolution, Mr. Scott Hodgett - General Director of Sheraton Saigon Hotel was also invited to contribute his opinions.

Mr. Scott Hodgetts is one of the foreign businessmen invited by the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee to attend the conference to implement Resolution No. 08-NQ/TW dated January 16, 2017 of the Politburo on developing tourism into a spearhead economy and Directive No. 07-CT/TU dated September 16, 2016 of the Standing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee on developing tourism in Ho Chi Minh City until 2020, which took place on March 8.

“I was very surprised when I received the invitation from the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee. I never imagined how a conference to implement the Resolution of the Communist Party of Vietnam would take place.

But when I attended and was invited to give my opinion, I understood that this was a very important event for the tourism industry of Ho Chi Minh City and for me personally. I felt honored and very moved" - Mr. Scott Hodgetts began the story.

As an open forum

PV: Before coming to the conference, did you ever imagine a conference to implement the Politburo's resolution and the directive of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee?

Mr. Scott Hodgetts:What impressed me most was that the meeting was very open, like an open forum for exchange and debate.

Mr. Scott Hodgetts - General Director of Sheraton Saigon Hotel.

First is the introduction of the resolution by Mr. Tat Thanh Cang - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee. He often paused for a long time when introducing parts of the resolution to explain, give examples, share viewpoints and information, which must be said to be very useful for businessmen.

As for Mr. Tran Vinh Tuyen - Vice Chairman of the HCM City People's Committee and Mr. Dinh La Thang - Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee, the next speakers attracted me in a different way. They answered directly to the opinions that I and other businessmen raised, without any evasion.

I saw the passion, enthusiasm, and openness of the leaders of Ho Chi Minh City when presenting the resolution content and conveying information. I and all the businessmen and city officials sat attentively listening until the last minute.

PV: An Australian businessman listened and gave his opinion on the implementation of the resolution of the Party agency of the host country. How do you feel about this?

Mr. Scott Hodgetts:Vietnamese people have a saying “when in Rome, do as the Romans do”. I came to Vietnam as a businessman, I am concerned about the legal system where I work. How can I comply to do business smoothly and legally?

I have worked in 5 countries, my most important thing in each place is to balance business and law.

2016: 13 inspections

PV:At the conference, he informed the city leaders that in 2016, the Sheraton Hotel received many inspection and examination delegations, which had "a certain impact on business"?

Mr. Scott Hodgetts:In 2016, Sheraton Saigon Hotel received at least 13 major and minor inspections. I believe that inspections would be much improved if there were unified regulations and limited requirements for documents and inspection categories to reduce duplication.

For example, for 4 consecutive years, Sheraton Hotel registered to sell moon cakes, but all 4 years the inspection teams made different requirements from the previous year that we did not know about, possibly due to regulatory adjustments that we did not know about.

Having so many inspection teams, in terms of business operations, affects the time and effort required to prepare documents, reports...

PV:So have you found the “balance” between business and law as you said?

Mr. Scott Hodgetts:What I said at the conference was better put into context. I was pleased when my candid comments were later mentioned by city leaders in their speeches.

The issue is not more inspections or more changes in regulations, but what I care about is how these regulations must be made public and transparent.

I think there should be a better mechanism for business people to grasp the latest regulations and laws to avoid mistakes. To be a successful business person, you have to comply with the regulations set out by the law, that is obvious.

I have worked in many countries, every place has its advantages and disadvantages and to do business well you have to know how to balance the advantages and disadvantages.

“Will stay in this city for a long time”

PV: Ho Chi Minh City has many problems to solve: traffic jams, flooding... This is something that Vietnamese businessmen at the conference also complained about, which greatly affects their work. What about you?

Mr. Scott Hodgetts:I have encountered this since the first days in Ho Chi Minh City, but I see that there is a change.

Just a small thing, I used to have dinner at the restaurants on the sidewalk of Hai Ba Trung street, but after a while I went to Nha Trang for work and when I returned I saw that the sidewalk on that street had been returned to pedestrians and those restaurants were no longer there.

Backlogs are everywhere, but it is important that direct and indirect contributions are listened to. The recent conference is an example.

I think myself and the people here need to look at things more generously to understand and share the difficulties of the government, because changing policies takes time.

Even the developed countries I have visited have parallel problems that are difficult to solve. But when leaders want to change, want to listen to the opinions of the people, want to discuss together like I saw at the recent conference, that is a good thing and the city will develop even more.

PV:I understand you have been in Vietnam for more than 13 years, married and have children in Vietnam. What are your plans next?

Mr. Scott Hodgetts:The first time I came to Vietnam was in 2002, I worked in Saigon, Nha Trang, in many different fields and had family in Vietnam. Now it is not only work but also great love for this land.

I told my group leader that wherever I was assigned to work, it should only be one flight away from Saigon, so that I could be close to my family.

What are you planning to do next? Many people ask me that question but I have no intention of going anywhere. I have been here for many years and have seen many changes in Ho Chi Minh City.

As for work, since 2016, Sheraton Saigon Hotel has been renovated in many areas, and the renovation and reconstruction plan will continue until 2018. And so I have another very exciting reason to stay, besides my love for this land.

According to VOV