1. 1 Central Institute for Economic Management Implementation of the Enterprise Law: New way of policy enforcement in Vietnam By Nguyen Dinh Cung Director of Department for Macroeconomic Policy 68 Phan Dinh Phung, Ha Noi, Vietnam Tel: (84) 08044929; Mobile: (84) 0913571596 E-mail: cung@netnam.org.vn

2. 2 The Legal framework for forms of business organization: 1. Law on foreign direct investment in Vietnam 2. Cooperative law 3. Law on state owned enterprises 4. Enterprises Law (1999): stipulates 4 types of business organization: - Sole Proprietorship - Partnership - Limited liability company - Join Stock Company 1. Scope of Enterprise Law Application

3. 3 1. Introduction of automatic procedures for incorporating private enterprises Under the previous company laws: - Complicated: 20 steps and 20 documents for getting permissions and approvals from numerous state agencies - Time-consuming: it took from 6 to 12 months to complete - High cost: 10 to 20 VND millions (700-1400 USD) 2. Core changes of Enterprise Law

4. 4 Investors Communal People's Committee Preparation of establishment filePreparation of business registration District People's Committee Certificate by Bank Required Professional License Certificate by Notary Office Establishment Certificate Line Department Office of Provincial People's Committee Bank Local Police Station Local Hospital Department of Planning and Investment File submitted to: Department of Planning & Investment or Office of Provincial People's Committee or Line Department Enterprise Owner founding Members' Identification Certificate or Household registering Book List of Board Members, Inspection, etc.. Enterprise Statutes Issue Establishment LicenseBusiness Registration Certificate Line MinistriesProvincial (city) People's Committee A completed establishment file Establishment is allowedBusiness registration is approved The end Business registration is not approved Establishment is not allowed

5. 5 2. Abolishment of 150 business licenses (among 400 existing ones) 3. Abolishment of approval or agreement letter of relevant state agencies for any changes in enterprise activities, such as: - Entering into new industries - Setting up branches or representative offices - Changes in investment, shareholders, headquarters' address... 2. Core changes of Enterprise Law

6. 6 1. From Government officials - Delay of implementation reasoned by: + lack of guidelines + have not received official document yet,... - Realization of regulations inconsistent or contradict to the EL - Issue licenses which had been already abolished - Criticized that the implementation of EL resulted in loosing state management or creating social disorders: “ghost enterprise”, tax evasion, transportation accidents, social evils,.... 3. Responses of vested interest groups

7. 7 2. From existing Registered enterprises Complaints:implementation of the EL leads to: + collapse of cooperatives + Unfair competition + Unhealthy enterprise, including inefficiency of resources Lobby for recovering of barriers or licenses 3. Responses of vested interested group

8. 8 -- Number of newly registered enterprise dramatically increased - Number of enterprises expanded their activities, created branches, representative offices, increased investment capital,... In 2000, over 9000 enterprises expanded their scope of activities 4. Impact of EL implementation

9. 9

10. 10 Reasons: 1. Content of the EL is clear, consistent, especially market-oriented and business - friendly; no room for discretion by officials. 2. Strong commitment of government: The special Task Force found by the P.M - 20 members: experienced economic and legal experts - headed by First Deputy Prime Minister 4. Impact of EL implementation

11. 11 - Duties: + Drafting regulations + Supervising implementation of the EL + Regularly report to the PM 3. Public support + closed co-operation between the Special task force and mass media: TV, Radio, Newspaper,... + Any barriers, unwillingness of vested interest groups has been quickly disclosed => remedies therefore timely and effectively introduced. 4. Impact of EL implementation

12. 12 Thank you very much