This is the 10th meeting in the past month between the Prime Minister and the domestic and foreign business community to promote investment, production, and business, helping Vietnam achieve the growth target of 8% in 2025 and double digits in the coming years.

Attending the seminar were Deputy Prime Ministers Bui Thanh Son and Ho Duc Phoc; Ministers, leaders of central ministries and branches; leaders of several provinces and centrally run cities; Ambassadors, Chargé d'Affaires, Counsellors of ASEAN countries in Vietnam; and leaders of ASEAN enterprises in Vietnam.

Over the past time, the Vietnam - ASEAN relationship has been a vivid demonstration of the spirit of solidarity, mutual love, cooperation and successful regional connectivity. With trust and efforts from both sides, the relationship between Vietnam and ASEAN in general and each ASEAN country in particular continues to develop positively, becoming increasingly in-depth, effective and substantive, in which economic - trade - investment cooperation continues to be a bright spot.

Vietnam's total import-export turnover with ASEAN countries in 2024 will reach 83.6 billion USD. ASEAN is Vietnam's 4th largest export market and Vietnam's 3rd largest import market. Many ASEAN countries are among the top foreign investors in Vietnam. Of which, Singapore is the leading ASEAN country investing in Vietnam, with 3,946 projects, reaching 84.3 billion USD; Thailand has 755 projects, reaching 14.3 billion USD; Malaysia has 767 projects, reaching 129 billion USD. In the opposite direction, Vietnam has 871 projects in ASEAN countries with a total capital of nearly 12.1 billion USD, respectively in Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore... However, this result is still modest compared to ASEAN's potential and Vietnam's expectations, desires, and conditions.

ASEAN businesses suggested that Vietnam continue to improve and have a clear legal framework with consistent implementation; continue to rationalize and transparently implement tax policies; simplify customs clearance procedures; remove technical barriers to imported goods; have an open and unified work permit and visa policy; have a more open policy on land use and home ownership for foreigners; simplify and shorten the time for investment approval and licensing; provide stable electricity at preferential prices... Businesses also reflected and proposed solutions to a number of issues in specific projects.

After the ministries, branches and Deputy Prime Ministers discussed, clarified and answered proposals, recommendations, and removed obstacles for ASEAN enterprises, concluding the discussion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh thanked ASEAN countries and ASEAN enterprises for always supporting and accompanying Vietnam in the development process over the past time; especially at the discussion, there were many opinions expressing understanding, frankness, sharing vision and giving suggestions for Vietnam to continue to improve the investment and business environment better and better in the coming time.

In the spirit of openness and acceptance, the Prime Minister assigned the ministries and branches to preside over and coordinate "clearly regarding people, clear about work, clear about responsibilities, clear about time, clear about results" to handle and resolve the opinions of enterprises so that the relationship between ASEAN enterprises and Vietnam becomes increasingly closer and more effective; respond and clarify a number of specific issues that ASEAN enterprises are interested in, worried about, and propose, such as the purchase and sale prices of electricity for power projects in Vietnam, licensing procedures, investment, foreign banking operations in Vietnam, difficulties in investing in developing the logistics industry, developing e-commerce, clean agricultural production, land policies, etc.

The Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam is making efforts to resolve the issue, in the spirit of "harmonizing interests, sharing risks, and not letting anyone suffer losses". If businesses still have problems, they will continue to coordinate with ministries, branches, and localities to resolve them in the spirit of frankness, equality, listening, and sharing.

Analyzing the current world situation, especially trade competition, the Prime Minister said that all countries must coexist, adapt flexibly and effectively. Therefore, the Prime Minister suggested that ASEAN countries and ASEAN businesses implement 5 more: In terms of diplomacy, be more united and united; in terms of economy, promote more connectivity, cooperate more closely and effectively; in terms of thinking, boldly innovate thinking more strongly and effectively; have more groups of solutions that meet practical requirements; in the implementation process, organize implementation more drastically, focus more, and key points, including closer coordination between countries and businesses.

The Prime Minister said that Vietnam always considers ASEAN as a common home, a close neighbor, and at the same time identifies ASEAN as a strategic priority in its foreign policy and always makes every effort with ASEAN countries to build a united and strong ASEAN Community. However, the space for cooperation between Vietnam and ASEAN is still large, the cooperation space is still very wide, the goals and desires for cooperation between the two sides have not been met. Therefore, the two sides have made efforts and need to make greater efforts, have tried and need to try even harder, have been effective then be more effective, in which ASEAN enterprises must take the lead and lead in implementing this task.

Providing information on Vietnam's socio-economic development results, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam is persistent and steadfast in its innovation and foreign policy, striving to accelerate, break through, and reach the goal, achieving a growth rate of 8% or more in 2025, creating momentum, creating momentum, and creating strength to achieve double-digit growth rates in the following years, so that by 2030 it will be a developing country with modern industry and high average income, and by 2045 it will be a developed country with high income; hoping that ASEAN countries, including ASEAN enterprises, will continue to accompany Vietnam in this process.

The Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam has a responsibility to ASEAN countries and businesses to build a united ASEAN in diversity, promote ASEAN's central role, and move towards a rich and prosperous ASEAN with increasingly prosperous and happy people.

According to the Prime Minister, in 2024, Vietnam's investment and business environment will continue to improve, and will be positively evaluated by the international community and investors. Many major international organizations have upgraded Vietnam's competitiveness: Credit rating at "stable", up 12 places; e-Government development index up 15 places, economic freedom index up 13 places, global innovation index up 2 places, sustainable development up 1 place, and it is in the top 50 countries in terms of network security index. Many foreign investors have chosen Vietnam as a strategic production center, connecting with global supply chains.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that Vietnam is focusing on three strategic breakthroughs in institutions, infrastructure and human resource training to have “open institutions, smooth infrastructure, smart governance and human resources”, helping businesses invest and operate effectively and sustainably; hoping that ASEAN businesses will expand their investment, production and business in Vietnam in accordance with the law and with high efficiency; transfer science and technology to Vietnam, especially core technology and source technology; give advice to Vietnam in perfecting its legal institutions; support Vietnam in training human resources and share smart management experiences with Vietnam.

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/doanh-nhan/doanh-nghiep-asean-cung-viet-nam-but-pha-hoi-tu-suc-manh-kien-tao-tuong-lai/20250305084148506