Improving business environment in Vietnam
Improving the Business Environment in Vietnam Through Collective Action
May 20, 2018
We are delighted to announce the publication of our research report “Enhancing Government–Business Integrity Cooperation in Vietnam”, commissioned by Vietnam Chamber of Commerce (VCCI) and written by local expert Lien Nguyen and IBLF Global’s Brook Horowitz. Click on image (bottom right) for Vietnamese version.
In recent months, there has been increasing attention on what to do about corruption in Vietnam. In the report, we take a close look at recent business integrity initiatives in Vietnam, and draw some conclusions about the possible shape of future anti-corruption interventions. We make a number of recommendations to the Government and the business community including the establishment of a Government-Business Integrity Initiative (GBII). This will be an important step forward for business, especially in the context of the new anti-corruption legislation due to be passed by the Vietnamese parliament later this year.
The report was the culmination of a project generously funded by the UK Prosperity Fund. Our lead researcher, Lien Nguyen, conducted desk research and face-to-face interviews with government officials, company executives, and NGO leaders involved in promoting a better business environment in Vietnam. We also received important inputs from group of influential officials from VCCI, Central Committee of Internal Affairs (CCIA, the Government Office, and the Government Inspectorate (GI) came to London for a full week of visits to UK Government departments, companies and civil society organisations, to learn more about how corruption is dealt with in the UK and other countries. The group brought back to Vietnam many new ideas which were incorporated in the recommendations contained in the report.
A draft version of the report was presented to the business community at a workshop in Hanoi in March 2018, when many more opinions were gathered from a wider audience of stakeholders.
Following the publication of the report, our expectation is that GBII will be launched later this year.
Finally, over the last few months, we have continued to develop our online anti-corruption Toolkit, http://kdlc.vn/. We conducted an analysis of the user needs and visitor figures, and have developed a strategy for the future development of the website. We have hired an IT company to provide technical support and are looking for an website editor. Our expectation is that the online Toolkit website will become the focal point and major vehicle for delivery of the GBII in the years to come.
