TO: THE GOVERNMENT

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vietnam (VCCI) is pleased to report on the implementation of the tasks assigned in the Directive 11 / CT-TTg dated 21 May 2014 by the Government’s Prime Minister and the Resolution 35 / NQ-CP dated May 16, 2016 of the Government on supporting, solving difficulties, bottlenecks, recommendations and promoting production and business development of enterprises, in the fourth quarter of 2016 as follows:

I. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RESPONSES OF MINISTRIES AND BRANCHES

1. 1. The Ministry of Transport

The Ministry of Transport issued an Official letter No. 12559 / BGTVT-VT on October 25, 2016 responding to the recommendations of the Hanoi Transportation Association reflect some contents related to the management of transport activities and reform of administrative procedures as follows:

1. Regarding the content of " disguise buses and bus stations" status in the whole country, the Government Office issued a Document No. 5615 / VPCP-KTN to the Ministry of Transport to direct the resolution of recommendations, the Ministry of Transport issued an official document No 8134 dated on July 14, 2016 to the provinces, assigned tasks to the Vietnam Road Administration and the Department of Transport. Until now, the Ha Noi Transport Association has been informed by the Departments of Transport: Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Lao Cai ... announced some results of implementation. Privately, Ho Chi Minh City has suspended operation of the disguise bus station of Thanh Buoi Company, but in general, the personating bus which run a fixed-line contract is still growing rapidly such as Thai Nguyen, Hanoi, Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien Hue.v.v ... “.

The Ministry of Transport:

The Ministry of Transport has coordinated with the Ministry of Public Security and the People's Committees of provinces and cities to assign related agencies to intensify measures and closely coordinate forces to strictly implement the direction of the Government, The Government’s Prime Minister, the National Traffic Safety Committee; Accordingly, to direct the police force and traffic inspectors to inspect and promptly handle administrative violations in the field of road traffic according to Decree No. 46/2016 / ND-CP of May 26, The Government shall stipulate the sanctioning of administrative violations in the field of road and railway traffic.

The Ministry of Transport has submitted to the Government the contents of the draft decree amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Government's Decree No. 86/2014 / ND-CP dated September 10, 2014 on business and business conditions of transport by bus, including some adjustments to strengthen the management of the type of passenger transportation business under contracts. In addition, the Ministry of Transport has directed the specialized agencies of the Ministry and Vietnam Road Administration to coordinate and instruct the Transport Department to intensify the inspection of information from cruise control equipment and review the grant contract bus badges to further improve the inspection and handle violations.

2.  Regarding the contents: "The Ministry of Transport issued Decision No. 2288 / QD-BGTVT dated June 26, 2016 approving the detailed planning of the inter-provincial fixed lines to 2020 with orientation to 2030. This Decision has caused a lot of difficulties for enterprises and Departments of Transport because bus stations are not stable, have not surveyed passenger traffic, there has not got frequency planning of bus stations, the Ministry is included in the detailed planning, enterprises, transport departments wants to adjust, change, have to ask the opinion of the Ministry, this is the centralization- bureaucracy – subsidization management . Enterprises would like to open new routes (not included in the plan), change the roadmap of the Department of Transport, they  must gather needs to 06 months for approval of the Ministry.

It is recommended that the Ministry of Transport should update only the contents proposed by departments and enterprises, without the need for the Ministry to approach  63 provinces to approve the increase of routes, which routes and roads  will be run? 

The Ministry of Transport responded as follows:

The Ministry of Transport has adopted and adjusted to facilitate business units on the basis of ensuring compliance with Clause 4, Article 24 of the Government's Decree No. 86/2014 / ND-CP dated September 10, 2014 stipulating on business and conditions of automobile transportation business.

Clause 1, Article 1 of the Decision No. 2548 / QD-BGTVT of August 16, 2004, adjusting and supplementing the detailed planning on the national inter-provincial fixed-line passenger transport route up to 2020, with orientations to 2030 of the Ministry of Transport has adjusted the content mentioned in the above proposal.

The Ministry of Transport issued a Decision No. 2729 / QD-BGTVT dated August 30, 2016 on the method of calculating the capacity of car terminals.

Currently, the Department of Transport has made publicly available bus station timetables on fixed routes.

 Regarding the content: "The Ministry of Transport is named as the Ministry issuing many documents leading in 14 ministries, however, each time the documents again set many procedures and forms, this  make very difficulties for businesses on administrative procedures. In implementing the Resolution 35 of the Government, we would like to request the Ministry of Transport to review the administrative procedures: the Department of Transport does not replace the enterprises, the Ministry does not do instead of the Department, what belong to thecorporate governance,  let businesses to do. We recommend that in 2016, to re-review, resolutely remove about 30% -40% of cumbersome procedures that make difficulties for businesses in order to create reasons for inspectors ” punishing” "enterprises".

The Ministry of Transport responded as follows:

The Ministry of Transportation is carrying out the reform of administrative procedures and Decree 35 / NQ-CP dated 16 May 2016 by the Government on supporting and developing enterprises. By 2020, to create favorable conditions for people and enterprises,  review and elimination of administrative procedures, regulations have been and are implemented by the Ministry in all fields of the sector. Specifically for road transport activities, the contents of the draft decree amending and supplementing some articles of Decree No. 86/2014 / ND-CP dated September 10, 2014 of the Government regulating business the business transportation conditions by vehicles, have been reviewed and adjusted procedures and papers to simplify the granting and re-issuance of transport business licenses, badges issued to vehicles ..

In addition, many related issues in the field of management of the sector are being reviewed and adjusted. On May 6, 2015, the Minister of Transport signed the Decision No. 1570 / QD-BGTVT approving the simplification of administrative procedures in the field of transportation, in which the total number of procedures to be reduced is 79 administrative procedures (14.8%) and simplification of 228 administrative procedures (42.8%). Currently, the Ministry of Transport is still implementing the plan of simplifying administrative procedures in the field of transportation according to the Decision No. 1570 / QD-BGTVT dated May 6, 2015 of the Minister of Transport. Continuous maintaining the system of receiving information, handling recommendations and results of settlement of administrative procedures. Continuous receiving feedbacks and proposals of organizations and individuals via telephone, email and documents as stipulated in Circular No. 58/2013 / TT-BGTVT dated 30 September 2011 of the Minister of The Ministry of Transport guiding the reception and handling feedbacks and proposals on administrative regulations under its management. The Ministry has issued a Circular No. 21/2016 / TT-BGTVT dated August 25, 2016 replacing the Circular No. 58/2013 / TT-BGTVT, be effective from October 15, 2016. Continuous implementing legal assistance for enterprises in accordance with the Decision No. 4447 / QD-BGTVT dated December 18, 2015 issuing the Legal Assistance Plan for enterprises of the Ministry of Transport in 2016.

The Ministry of Transport is continuing to thoroughly grasp, inspect and implement the implementation of the tasks of cadres, civil servants and officials of the communications and transport sector.

2. 2. The Ministry of Finance

2.1. The General Department of Taxation, Ministry of Finance has the Official Letter No. 5293 / TCT-CS dated November 15, 2016 responding to the recommendations of enterprises related to the amendment of conditions for of input VAT deduction stipulated in the Circular No. 26/2015 / TT-BTC dated February 27, 2015 of the Ministry of Finance and propose the revision and improvement of the system of invoices and vouchers, specifically as follows:

- Regarding the amendment of regulations on conditions for input VAT deduction stipulated in Circular No. 26/2015 / TT-BTC dated February 27, 2015 of the Ministry of Finance:

On October 26, 2016, the General Department of Taxation issued Official Letter No. 4987 / TCT-CS (attached copy) to Tax Departments of provinces and centrally-run cities guiding the conditions for deducting input VAT as follows:

 “In principle, taxpayers who have been granted tax registration but have not yet notified information on taxpayers' accounts opened at commercial banks or credit institutions with tax offices before the time of the Decree. 83/2013 / ND-CP shall be additionally announced, the deadline is December 31, 2013. Taxpayers in the course of production and business, quarterly when there are changes or additions of accounts at commercial banks or credit institutions, must notify tax offices. This is not the basis for tax agencies not refunding VAT for enterprises”.

However, to avoid misunderstanding, the General Department of Taxation reported to the Ministry of Finance to issue a Circular No. 173/2016 / TT-BTC dated 28 October 2016 amending and supplementing the first paragraph of Clause 3 Article 15 of Circular No. 219/2013 / TT-BTC dated December 31, 2013 of the Ministry of Finance (amended and supplemented in accordance with Circular No. 119/2014 dated August 25, 2014, the Circular No. 151/2014 / TT-BTC dated October 10, 2014, the Circular No. 26/2015 / TT-BTC dated 27/02/2015 of the Ministry of Finance. In Article 1 of Circular No. 173/2016 / TT-BTC, there are guidelines:

 “3 The documents guided through the bank are understood as having vouchers evidencing the transfer of money from the buyer's account to the seller's account opened at the payment service-providing organizations in the form of appropriate payment with existing law such as checks, money orders or orders, collection orders, bank cards, credit cards, sim phones (electronic wallets) and other forms of payment ( This includes the case where the buyer pays from the buyer's account to the seller's account bearing the name of the private entrepreneur or the buyer pays from the buyer's account bearing the name of the private entrepreneur to the seller's account. ). "

2.2. The General Department of Taxation issued  an Official Letter No. 5724 / TCT-CS dated December 9, 2016, responding to suggestions of the Honda Vietnam Company for comments on the draft Circular amending and supplementing Circular No. 10/2014 / TT- BTC dated January 17, 2014 of the Ministry of Finance on penalties for administrative violations of invoices as follows:

On the basis of the Government's Decree No. 49/2016 / ND-CP of May 27, 201, amending and supplementing the Government's Decree No. 109/2013 / ND-CP of September 24, to sanction administrative violations in the field of charge and fee management, invoices and receipt of comments from organizations and individuals, the Ministry of Finance issued an Circular No. 176/2016 / TT-BTC dated October 31, 2016 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Finance Ministry's Circular No. 10/2014 / TT-BTC dated January 17, 2014 on penalties for administrative violations related to invoices comments of Honda Vietnam Company

3. 3. The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs issued Official Letter No. 4691 / LDTBXH-PC dated November 23, 2016 addressing the recommendations of enterprises as follows:

3.1. On the proposal of the Vietnam Textile and Garment Association, it is proposed to add the regulation "Employees who voluntarily quit their jobs for 5 consecutive days without plausible reasons shall have the right to unilaterally terminate their labor contracts":

In Clause 3, Article 126 of the Labor Code 2012 has stipulated, Where an employee has been absent from work for 05 accumulated days in 01 month or 20 accumulated days in 01 year without a proper reason, he/she shall be dismissed. In cases where employees voluntarily leave their jobs without plausible reasons but fail to return to the working enterprises have not yet prescribed by labor legislation.

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs shall take note of the recommendations of enterprises on this issue. They shall study to make appropriate proposals for inclusion in the draft of Law amending and supplementing a number of Articles of the Labor Code and Implementation guidelines.

3.2. On the recommendation of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, it is proposed to amend Article 152 of the Labor Code in 2012 according to the guideline stipulating the period of periodic medical examination once a year:

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs will study and propose appropriate amendments to the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Labor Code in consultation with the Ministry of Health. In addition, it will be proposed that occupational health care be based on a history of occupational exposure without the need for a labor-environment monitoring.

3.3. The proposal of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association asked the State to study the reduction of insurance premium rates such as the level before 2010:

In furtherance of the Government's Resolution No. 19 / NQ-CP dated April 28, 2016 on major tasks and solutions to improve the business environment and raise the national competitiveness in 2016-2017. Towards 2020 and Resolution 35 / NQ-CP dated 16 May 2016 of the Government on support and development of enterprises up to 2020, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs has conducted a rate assessment of social insurance, unemployment insurance fund.

On the basis of the results of the assessment of the rate of contribution and the status of the balance ability of the funds, in order to ensure the harmonious interests of employees and employers, on October 28, - Invalids and Social Affairs has issued the Official Letter No. 4295 / LDTBXH-BHXH on requesting the Government’s Prime Minister's opinion on the proposal to reduce the percentage of contribution to the labor accident and occupational disease insurance fund and the unemployment insurance fund.

3.4. Recommendations of the Japanese Business Association to Article 17 and Article 19 of Decree No. 44/2016 / ND-CP dated 15 May 2016 of the Government detailing some articles of the Law on safety and hygiene work on the technical inspection of labor safety; safety training, occupational health and labor environment monitoring:

Article 17 "Participants in occupational safety and health training":

- Recommendations on work related to electrical equipment in Item 16 (not Item 7) in the Appendix issued together with Circular No. 13/2016 / TT-BLDTBXH dated June 2016 of the Ministry of Labor - The list of jobs subject to strict requirements on labor safety and hygiene. The textual content of item 16 is “The jobs of construction, installation, operation, maintenance and repair of electrical equipment: construction, installation, operation, maintenance and repair of electrical system”. Thus, employers who are doing jobs with strict requirements on labor safety and hygiene are employees who perform jobs on construction, installation, operation, maintenance and repair of electric equipment without covering users and contacts with common electrical equipment (such as office workers in contact with computers). These are the jobs that require high occupational safety and health, so training on occupational safety and health is absolutely necessary.

- The Circular No. 13/2016 / TT-BLDTBXH only regulates the list of jobs with strict requirements on occupational safety and health. The types of machines and equipment that need to be identified in terms of efficiency have also been issued in Annex Ib attached to Government Decree No. 44/2016 / ND-CP.

Article 19 "Training time":

- On the duration of training time for group 3: "The employees who are  doing jobs with strict requirements on labor safety and hygiene are persons doing jobs on the list of jobs with strict requirements. Occupational safety and health issues issued by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs "(Clause 3, Article 17 of Decree No. 44/2016 / ND-CP) are those in danger of being insecure most. Therefore, the required length of training time is 24 hours as the new regulations ensure to provide workers with the necessary knowledge and skills on labor safety (comparable shows that the training time as prescribed is still lower than the world average.

- Regarding the training duration for group 5: as prescribed in Decree No. 44/2016 / ND-CP, the total training time is at least 56 hours (including the time for examination), in which occupational hygiene occupations only occupy 16 hours, the remaining 40 hours dedicated to the time of professional training in occupational medicine to train occupational health workers for medical staff working in enterprises This is a relatively new content provided in the Law on Occupational Safety and Health in 2015 and relevant decrees to help implement the management of occupational health and occupational diseases. In addition, health workers who have been trained in occupational safety and health only need additional training in occupational health.

Training duration for group 6: Group 6 is Safety and hygienic students who are well-informed workers in the observance of regulations on occupational safety and health. In addition to the contents of the training on labor safety and hygiene, workers in the team who have a positive influence on the observance of occupational safety and health regulations by other individuals in the team also be trained in the skills and methods of operation of safety, and hygiene for students with a duration of 4 hours.

3.5. Recommendation of the Fisheries Association "All unskilled workers who enter the enterprise for a period of time of a stable period of 3 months, their employers shall have to participate in the compulsory social insurance scheme for their employees or the regulations of the social insurance security must pay the amount that enterprises have paid 32.5% for employees who quit their jobs for less than 3 months in order to enterprises taking other employees and continuing implementation according to regulations. "

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs replied in the Official Letter No. 4782 / LDTBXH-PC dated November 23, 2015 as follows:

According to the provisions of the Law on Social Insurance, employees who are working under labor contracts with a term of full 3 months or more are eligible for compulsory social insurance. The registration of participation and compulsory social insurance for employees are subject to compulsory social insurance is the responsibility of employees and employers. The employee terminates the labor contract at any time (including the unilateral termination of the labor contract), then stopping  paying social insurance and closing the social insurance book the time of social insurance contribution to that time.

Proposing to the Government for stipulation of the reimbursement of the amount of compulsory social insurance premiums in case the laborers do not comply with the provisions of the Law on Social Insurance within 3 months from the date of commencement of work is not suitable to regulations of  the Law on Social Insurance .

4. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

4.1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued an Official Letter No. 10027 / BNN dated November 25, 2016 responding CJ Freshway Company's request for quarantine of fresh poultry eggs as follows:

• Implementing the Law on Animal Health in 2015, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Circular No. 25/2016 / TT-BNNPTNT dated 30 June 2016 regulating the quarantine of animals and products on land and the attached appendices, includiAppendix 1: The list of terrestrial animals and animal products that are subject to quarantine 
• - This list provides for all animals and terrestrial animal products that are subject to quarantine when being transported out of the province, import, export, temporary import for re-export or border-gate transfer, sending to bonded warehouses and transit the territory of Vietnam

- Appendix 2: List of terrestrial animals and animal products are subject to quarantine exemption.

This list is a list of land animals and animal products on land shall be exempted from quarantine in specific cases, including: When being transported out of the provincial area and when exporting and importing.

Pursuant to the current regulations on quarantine of animals and products of terrestrial animals, the quarantine of fresh poultry eggs shall be effected as follows:

- When the company imports fresh poultry eggs into Vietnam; Temporary import for re-export, border-gate transfer, bonded warehouses, transit of Vietnamese territory Fresh poultry eggs must be quarantined.

- When the company exports fresh poultry eggs from Vietnam to other countries, the quarantine shall be carried out at the request of importing countries or goods owners.

- When the company transports fresh poultry eggs within the provincial area, the province does not have to carry out quarantine.

4.2. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) issued an official letter No. 9280 / BNN-QLDA dated November 2, 2016, responding to the recommendation "we recommend relevant ministries and agencies that on their portals, at the part of information about international integration should be posted and regularly updated information, require particular roadmaps (in Vietnamese) for each sector. goods, products, by each country, and each free trade agreement. You can find the information you need and you can prepare well for the opportunities and confront difficulties and challenges of free trade agreements. Publishing the guidelines, explaining the specific commitments of free trade agreements "as follows:

For this purpose, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has regularly publicized and directed the attached agencies and units to update on the Ministry's web portal atwww.mard.org.vn, the International Cooperation and Market entry & Promotion. Enterprises can access to look up necessary information for their production and business activities. 

5.Ministry of Industry and Trade

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has issued an Official Letter No. 12003 / BCT-KH dated December 14, 2016 on the recommendations of LPG trading enterprises as follows:

- For proposing the removal or reduction of conditions for traders distributing LPG in the total volume of tanks of at least 300 m3 and LPG bottling capacity of 2,620,000 liters for trading in bottle LPG (Clause 1, Point a Clause 2, Article 9), the Ministry replied:

Implementation of the Government's Resolution No. 35 / NQ-CP of May 16, 2016 on support and development of enterprises till 2020, in order to create favorable conditions for enterprises dealing in the field of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), the Ministry of Industry and Trade is studying to amend and supplement the Decree No. 19/2016 / ND-CP and propose to remove the conditions on business scale as the material basis of ownership, the number of bottles of LPG. Specifically: the regulations on LPG tanks and LPG cylinders for LPG distributors in Clause 1, Point a, Clause 2, Article 9 of Decree No. 19/2016 / ND-CP shall be removed.

- Regarding to the proposal to remove Clause 1, Article 23 of Decree No. 19/2016 / ND-CP stipulating the rights and obligations of LPG trading agents “to select and sign an agency contract with one general agent or three LPG wholesalers that fully meet the conditions prescribed in this Decree”, The Ministry responded:

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will consider proposing amendments and supplements to Decree No. 19/2016 / ND-CP in the direction that the LPG filling stations must be owned by distributors.

- Regarding to the proposal on the time limit for granting licenses, the Ministry of Industry and Trade requested the reduction of the licensing time to seven working days as prescribed in Decree No. 107/2009 / ND-CP.

Carrying out the overall review and drafting simplification of legal regulations and administrative procedures in 2017, in the field of gas business under Decree No. 19/2016 / ND-CP, Ministry of Industry will consider reducing the deadline for licensing, reduce the time for implementing administrative procedures, thus reducing the compliance costs of organizations and individuals that carrying out administrative procedures and at the same time ensuring compatibility with the real situation of the state management.

- For the recommendation on  requesting the consolidation of the certificate of eligibility for LPG distribution with a certificate of eligibility for bottling LPG into a certificate and assigning it to the Industry and Trade Department, the Ministry responded:

According to the provisions of Decree No. 19/2016 / ND-CP, LPG distributors are LPG wholesalers, where LPG sources are marketed with many rights and obligations which affect the turnaround. The distribution of LPG in the distribution network ... LPG distributors are not only active in the distribution of LPG and LPG bottle. It also has LPG trading and distribution facilities operating in many provinces and centrally-run cities, the Department of Industry and Trade does not have sufficient functions and resources. To effectively carry out the state management of traders and LPG traders outside the scope of their management. province management.

LPG bottling stations are one of the LPG trading units located in the system of facilities serving LPG trading activities (including selling stores of LPG bottles, LPG supply stations and LPG filling stations) always meet the conditions required to ensure strict requirements on technical safety, fire protection and environmental protection, Department of Industry and Commerce in the area checks conditions of LPG trading establishments and grant of certificates.

Provincial Department of Industry and Trade inspects conditions of the LPG trading establishment and issues the certificate.

For the above reasons, it is not possible to put two types of paper into one certificate and assign it to the Department of Trade and Industry. However, in order to ensure compliance with the actual requirements of operation of enterprises as well as the state management in LPG trading activities, it is proposed to amend Decree No. 19/2016 / ND-CP in the direction of eliminating the regulation of LPG station into bottles must be owned by LPG distributors and LPG exporters and importers.

- Regarding recommendation on requesting the relevant ministries and branches to publish information on international integration on the portal, the Ministry responded:

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has recognized this recommendation, on January 1, /2017 itis expected that the website of the Ministry of Industry and Trade will open the "International Integration" webpage. The website will provide comprehensive information on international integration, thereby contributing to widespread and effective dissemination to enterprises of information on integration in general and information on free trade agreements. Vietnam signed with other countries.

II. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ASIGNED TASKS OF VCCI

In the fourth quarter of 2016, VCCI carried out the following tasks:

1. Carried out the Action Program to implement the Resolution No. 09-NQ / TW of the Politburo on building and promoting the role of Vietnamese businessmen in the period of accelerating industrialization, modernization and association and internationalintegration:

 - VCCI completed comments on drafts of the Law on Surveying and Mapping; Circular amending and supplementing the Ministry of Health's, Circular No. 19/2012 / TT-BYT; Decree amending and supplementing some articles of Decree No. 86/2014 / ND-CP regulating the business and conditions of automobile transportation business; The Law amending and supplementing Appendix 4 of the Investment Law on the list of conditional investment business lines; Decree on sanctioning of administrative violations in the field of meteorology; Decree on conditions for dealing in seaports; Circular amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular No. 24/2015 / TT-NHNN on lending in foreign currency by credit institutions; Circular amending and supplementing some articles of Circular No. 07/2012 / TT-BCT dated April 4, 2012 by the Minister of Industry and Trade on stipulating the labeling of energy for equipment and devices using energy quantity; the Decision on the mechanism for adjusting electricity prices; The Circular provides for state inspection of the quality of products and goods which are likely to cause unsafety, under the management of the Ministry of Public Security; the Decree amending Decree No. 89/2006 / ND-CP on goods labels; the Decree amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Decree No. 131/2013 / ND-CP and the Decree No. 158/2013 / ND-CP; The Circular on the collection, remittance, management and use of the fee for registration and supply of information on transactions of guarantee for the granting of codes using the database on security transactions.

- Organized the Vietnam Business Forum 2016 on the occasion of Vietnam Business Day on October 13 with the theme: Vietnamese enterprises reached the global standard. Attended the seminar with many experts, leaders of ministries, branches, leaders of investment funds, large enterprises and representatives of international financial organizations with nearly 400 delegates who are typical Vietnamese businessmen in 2016. The seminar was organized to create a forum for exchanging and sharing experiences on business development, encouraged Vietnamese businessmen to reach international standards.

- Co-ordinated with the Central Emulation and Rewarding Council to organize the launching ceremony of the emulation movement "Vietnamese Enterprises for Integration and Development" and to confer the title of "Vietnam Entrepreneur of the Year" in 2016. The program includes Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, members of the Central Commission for Emulation and Reward; with leaders of many ministries, departments, provinces and centrally run cities and numerous businessmen representing the business community of Vietnam all over the country.

- Organized a business delegation accompanying President Tran Dai Quang to Cuba, Italy and attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru. The delegation was composed of representatives of enterprises operating in the fields of oil and gas, finance and banking, education and training, investment in seaport and industrial zone infrastructure, production of consumer goods and foodstuffs. - Food, garment, electronics, minerals, medical, manufacturing and trading of building materials, new energy and environmental treatment. VCCI co-organized the Vietnam-Cuba Business Forum and the Vietnam-Italy Business Forum, meeting between President Tran Dai Quang and Peruvian businesses with a large participation of local enterprises. Through the Business Forum, many agreements, memorandum and contracts have been signed between Vietnam enterprises and enterprises in countries.

-  In collaboration with the British Council, Unilever Vietnam and Vingroup Group held the 3rd Vietnam Business Sustainability Forum (VCSF) with the theme "Creativity for implementation of Sustainable Development Goals". The Forum was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Chairman of the National Council for Sustainable Development and Competitiveness, with leaders from various ministries, ambassadors, VCCI representatives the United Nations in Viet Nam, international organizations, leaders of research institutes, enterprises, business associations at home and abroad.

- In coordination with Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and State Securities Commission of Vietnam held a ceremony to announce the ranking of 100 sustainable enterprises in Vietnam in 2016. The participation with high rank gave businesses the opportunity to increase their reputation, attracted new human resources and business opportunities through increasing trust of their partners, investors and shareholders, has contributed to sustainable business development, enhancing the competitiveness of enterprises in the context of international economic integration today.

2.Implementation of programs and projects for supporting the competitiveness of enterprises and business associations:

- Coordinated with the International Labor Organization (ILO) in organizing the High-Level Tripartite Dialogue on "Optimizing the Development and Employment Impact of Foreign Direct Investment and the Operations of Multinational Companies in Vietnam's electronics industry in the context of Vietnam increasingly integrated through TPP and FTA. Comments at the TPP Review Dialogue have opened up great opportunities for Vietnam to develop robust labor-intensive industries such as textiles, footwear and electronics.

- In collaboration with the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises in Hanoi (HAWASME) and the Mekong Region Private Sector Initiative (MBI), a workshop on " female owners and recommendations for the development of the Law on Support to Small and Medium Enterprises". The research report on Women-Owned SMEs in Vietnam: Current Situation and Policy Recommendations showed that small and medium enterprises owned by women in Vietnam play an important role for the socio-economic development of the country. Statistics showed that a  number of small and medium-sized enterprises run by 1/4 women in Vietnam. They also employ more female workers than male-dominated ones (43.4% in comparison to 36%).

- Coordinated with the Standard Chartered Bank to organize a workshop to increase access to capital and technology for small and medium enterprises. The workshop was aimed to contribute to the information and needed support to help small and medium-sized businesses capturing business opportunities and achieve development goals in both domestic and international markets. Small and medium enterprises are the "backbone" of the Vietnamese economy, so that the development of this sector is strong and be sustainable, playing an important role in the development of Vietnam in the long run. In addition, the workshop also introduced financial solutions that were specially designed by Standard Chartered to help small and medium enterprises in their business, investment and long-term goals.

- Coordinateed with VBF to hold the Vietnam Business Forum in late 2016 with the theme: Enhancing the role of the private sector: "Strengthening cooperation between domestic and foreign enterprises for distribution of harmonization of the Vietnamese economy. " The Forum aims to provide opportunities for the business community and governments and ministries to discuss public policies, particularly in the context of a new government of action. The forum was attended by the Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and many government officials, ministries and branches in Vietnam and a large number of domestic and foreign businessmen. Participated in the Forumwere the VCCI and the Business Associations which representing the business community from the United States, Europe, South Korea, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

 - Coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in organizing a dialogue forum with enterprises investing in agriculture and rural areas with the participation of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, representatives of the Central Economic Commission, The Office of the Government, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the State Bank of Vietnam, industry associations and about 100 enterprises operating in the agriculture and rural development sector. The Forum provided opportunities for businesses, policymakers, associations and business support organizations to work together to find initiatives and solutions for removing difficulties and strongly pushing investment of enterprises in agriculture and rural areas. The forum has also focused on four issues: policy institutions; business sector development strategy is involved; Vietnam's agricultural development strategy and plans to invest in agriculture.

3.Summary of the difficulties and obstacles of enterprises:

In the fourth quarter of 2016, VCCI continued to coordinate with ministries, localities and business associations to bring together new business proposals. The list of new proposals is presented in the attached appendix.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vietnam would like to report to the Government

C/C:

- As above;

- The Steering Committee;

- The Government’s Office (DMDN Dept.);

- The Ministry of Transport;

- The Ministry of Finance;

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

- The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

- Saved by  archival, Admin (for synthetics).