The recommendations were made at the "Double-Digit Growth – Driven by Businesses" conference, held on July 8 by Nhan Dan (People) in collaboration with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). The event brought together business leaders and policy experts to discuss reforms aimed at unleashing new drivers of economic growth.

Businesses seek a stable and transparent operating environment
 

Tran Thi Thu Trang, Chairwoman of Hanel PT New Generation Technology JSC and President of the Bac Ninh Industrial Manufacturing Association, said one of the most pressing challenges facing technology companies is a shortage of workers.

She noted that some businesses had explored recruiting workers from Africa, but current regulations primarily allow the recruitment of skilled foreign workers and lack clear mechanisms for admitting unskilled labor.

"Countries such as Japan introduced policies to accept foreign workers when they experienced labor shortages. Vietnam should also study and develop appropriate policies. Until businesses can fully automate production, labor shortages will remain a major bottleneck that directly affects growth," she said.

Trang also pointed to weaknesses in policy implementation, saying some public officials remain reluctant to make decisions because they fear making mistakes, reducing their willingness to actively support businesses.

Addressing inspections and enforcement, she said tackling counterfeit goods and trade fraud is necessary but should be balanced with policies that strengthen business confidence.

"Many businesses welcomed the spirit of Resolution 68, which emphasizes that legitimate economic and commercial relationships should not be criminalized. If businesses continue to perceive commercial disputes as being handled through criminal proceedings, they will become more hesitant to expand investment," she said.

According to Nguyen Minh Thao, Head of the Business Environment and Competitiveness Research Department at the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Economy and Finance under the Ministry of Finance, reforms to the business environment should consistently follow three core principles: reducing time, lowering costs and minimizing risks for businesses.

She said that as Vietnam pursues double-digit economic growth, the business community - particularly the private sector - will play a central role in driving development.

However, companies continue to face significant pressure from administrative procedures, regulatory compliance costs and inconsistencies in policy implementation.

Businesses, she said, need more than incentives. They need a stable and transparent business environment, simpler administrative procedures and public authorities that work alongside them.

She also called for improvements to the legal framework to encourage innovation, scientific research and investment while helping businesses meet emerging requirements such as green manufacturing and product traceability.

Transparent mechanisms for resolving business concerns

Phan Duc Hieu, a member of the National Assembly's Committee for Economic and Financial Affairs, said parliamentary oversight will increasingly focus on the quality of policy implementation rather than simply monitoring whether legal documents are issued on schedule.

According to Hieu, lawmakers will examine whether implementing regulations remain consistent with the reform objectives of newly adopted laws and whether they inadvertently create additional procedures or barriers for businesses.

He added that recommendations from the business community will also be collected more systematically before being forwarded to the Government and relevant ministries for resolution.

Meanwhile, Dau Anh Tuan, Deputy Secretary General and Head of the Legal Department at VCCI, said improving Vietnam's investment climate requires progress in two key areas: strengthening institutions and modernizing implementation mechanisms.

He noted that many businesses remain uncertain about where to report regulatory obstacles, while some recommendations are passed between multiple agencies, delaying solutions.

Vietnam should therefore establish an independent and transparent mechanism for receiving and handling business feedback, with clearly defined responsibilities for each agency, he said.

"Achieving double-digit growth requires not only institutional reform but also high-quality implementation," Tuan said. "Only by building a stable, transparent legal environment and ensuring that public institutions genuinely support businesses can Vietnam unlock its development potential and translate it into sustainable economic growth."

Hong Khanh