Hanoi (VNA) - The Administrative Reforms Consultancy Council and the Prime Minister’s Administrative Reforms Taskforce made a debut in Hanoi on July 16.

The taskforce has been entrusted to manage and coordinate the work of collecting statistics of procedures among ministries, provinces and cities, set up a complete database on administrative procedures and issue administrative and application forms to the public on the internet.

The 15-member consultancy council, set up by the Government Office, will act as aide to the taskforce. It is comprised of renowned policy scholars, leaders of business and production associations, whose industries and services make up high proportions of the national economy such as textiles and garment, leather shoes, coffee and banking. Its line-up includes domestic business executives and representatives from commercial agencies of the US , the EU and other countries.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung emphasised at the debut that administrative reforms would be a decisive factor for the success of Vietnam ’s integration process.

It is because the administrative procedures make up a connection between ordinary people and State administrative agencies, explained the Deputy PM.

He called for greater efforts to be made to streamline administrative procedures in order to remove barriers that stand on the way of economic development and benefit both ordinary people and business circles.

US Ambassador Michael W.Michalak praised the Vietnamese Government’s great efforts in administrative reforms as a long-term vision in the interest of its citizens.

He also pledged to do more to help Vietnam fulfill its project on simplifying administrative reforms related to State management fields for the 2007-10 period called Project 30.

He also said the US embassy in Hanoi would help Vietnam improve the competence of public employees working for State management agencies.