VN gains fine achievements in administrative reform in 2006

The administrative reform in 2006 reflected the great efforts made by all sectors and echelons under the intensive direction of the Government and the Prime Minister. It brought about good results contributing to the fulfillment of the 2006 socio-economic development plan, helping to improve the institutional system, creating positive turnarounds in the quality and efficiency of administrative agencies. In 2006, the PM has issued different directives requesting ministries and provinces to take practical and concrete actions for administrative reform and the interrelationship between the public sector and the public and business communities.

Prominent in the administrative reform was improving socialist-orientated market economic institutions, the consistency in making institutions, policies, laws and legal documents, the legal environment and institutional framework for a new management styles in a wide range of socio-economic areas. Closely following the realities has helped in the development of institutions and legal documents for consistency, feasibility and timeliness. Greater efforts were made to clarify the responsibility of each administrative echelon and for decentralization. The organizational structure and operation of various organizations in public sector have been defined basically. The relationship between the administrative agencies and citizens and non-public organizations has seen initial improvements towards a better and more transparent administration working to simplify and publish procedures at all echelons and in all sectors. 

However, the institutional reform is still plagued by constraints such as the poor quality of documents; the overlapping of documents which led to bureaucracy in management and flawed accountability. Some ministries and central-level branches have not stayed ahead and shown an example in realizing the issued policies. Administrative procedures remain complex, inconvenient and troubling. The personal responsibility of the head of the administrative agency and civil servants has not been clarified.

The Report also puts forward some objectives for administrative reform in 2007 with focuses underneath:

To continue improving socialist-orientated market economic institutions for a favorable business environment and international economic integration. To convert public service non-business providers throughout the country into self-supply units having full accountability; to embrace modernization across the administration for integration and regional and international standards. To review, simplify and publicize administrative procedures, responsibilities and powers of public agencies and staff. To put in place regulations on grassroots democracy. To combine administrative reform with anti-corruption, anti-prodigality and thrift practice. To do information and communication that attracts all strata of the population into policy dissemination, and supervision and inspection of the administration.

By Hoàng Nguyên Hồ