Dialogue discusses administrative reforms to unlock full potential of EVFTA

Photo: VGP

The event was co-chaired by Mai Tien Dung, Minister-Chairman of the Government Office and chairman of the council, and Nicolas Audier, Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) Viet Nam.

Under the theme “Administrative Reforms: Key Role in the Implementation of EVFTA”, the dialogue brought together representatives from ministries, sectors, the European business community and diplomatic missions, discussing administrative reform plans to unlock the full potential of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), scheduled to take effect from August 1.

At the conference, delegates and businesses talked the issues related to regulations on the EVFTA; pharmaceutical inventions and the legal framework; machine installation models in public hospitals; labeling of imported goods; registration certificates for food safety inspection; tariffs applied to functional foods; e-commerce; certificates of free sale; registration process of bactericidal products to serve COVID-19 prevention and control; and the management of e-commerce platforms.

The dialogue was held in conjunction with the launch of the 12th edition of EuroCham Viet Nam’s White Book. The annual report summarizes the important issues for business activities of 17 sector committees under EuroCham, together with the recommendations that the Vietnamese Government can implement to improve the domestic business environment and enhance trade and investment with the EU.

Earlier, in December 2019, the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform and EuroCham also held a high-level dialogue on the topic of improving the investment and trade climate in Viet Nam.

According to Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung, the council’s dialogues with businesses are aimed at implementing the direction of the Government and the PM on reforming mechanisms, policies and administrative procedures, towards helping enterprises remove obstacles in their investment, production and business activities, reduce costs and improve their operational efficiency.

                                                                                                        By Vien Nhu