Ha Noi, Nov. 29 (VNA) – The Government attaches great importance to clearing up queries raised by entrepreneurs, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan said on Monday.

The deputy PM told the Viet Nam Business Forum, a traditional meeting between business leaders, government officials and international development donors prior to the annual Consultative Group Meeting, that after each annual dialogue meeting with businesses, the Prime Minister has given instructions to help remove obstacles for them.

Mentioning challenges ahead Viet Nam in improving the economy’s competitiveness, the deputy PM affirmed that the Government needs the support of businesses and is keen to hear their opinions.

He also praised businesses’ notable contributions to the country’s socio-economic achievements over recent years, particularly this year when Viet Nam overcame numerous challenges and saw impressive economic changes, including the restructuring of around 1,400 State-owned enterprises, a GDP growth rate of 7.6 percent, an increase in exports of 24 percent and total investment capital reaching 36 percent of the GDP.

Another important factor in this smooth development for the economy is the great efforts made by the Government, ministries and agencies in order to improve the investment and business environment, deputy PM Khoan said, adding that during the year, many laws and legal documents have been approved and a number of policies on taxes, interest rates, custom regulations and administrative procedures have been revised.

Presiding over the forum, Deepak Khanna, Viet Nam Country Manager of the International Finance Corporation, and Klaus Rohland, Country Director of the World Bank in Viet Nam, highly praised the Vietnamese Government’s concern for the business community’s requirements as well as the Government’s positive action, which has resulted in reforms in legal regulations and administrative procedures to make the investment environment more attractive.

According to Deepark, Viet Nam ranks fourth in terms of attractive investment environments in the region and over 80 percent of investment capital in Viet Nam has been used efficiently.

During the forum, representatives from the investment environment, infrastructure banking and capital market research groups also gave positive assessments of Viet Nam’s situation. They also pointed to impending and permanent challenges the Government should tackle in order to maintain sustainable development and successfully integrate into the world economy.

In addition to the improvement of the investment environment and infrastructure, the World Trade Organisation accession, banking and the capital market, the forum also discussed issues relating to labour, anti-corruption, and the mapping out of the Common Investment and the Integrated Business Laws.