The National Assembly (NA) and Government should take more radical measures to improve the investment climate, fight corruption and ensure food safety, lawmakers said during a plenary session yesterday.

Bui Manh Hung, a deputy from Binh Phuoc province, said it was worrying that corruption was increasingly considered as normal. Apart from economic activities, it had spread to policy making and personnel appointments in State agencies.

NA deputies made the request while reviewing the implementation of the 2011 – 2015 socio-economic development plan and discussing missions for the next five years.

Le Nhu Tien, a deputy of Quang Tri province, said though Vietnam was striving to create a favourable environment for investors, its efforts had been undermined by some local public servants’ bad behaviour such as demanding bribes.

He urged the parliament and Cabinet to raise public servants’ sense of responsibility, noting that a “clean” environment is important for the country’s development.

Deputy Tran Ngoc Vinh of Hai Phong City said public debt had risen and is now at an alarming rate, indicating a close connection between the economic growth rate and Government debt.

To curb the increase of public debt, he asked the Government to tighten the allocation and use of foreign loans, capitalise on domestic companies’ potential and attract idle money from society.

He also warned that mishandled public debt and expenditure along with a hih budget deficit will result in serious consequences for Việt Nam’s economy.

Regarding foreign direct investment (FDI), Vinh said although FDI had helped boost export growth, too many incentives for FDI businesses have impeded domestic firms. He called for using FDI in industries that are underdeveloped in the country.

Bui Manh Hung, a deputy from Binh Phuoc province, said it was worrying that corruption was increasingly considered as normal. Apart from economic activities, it had spread to policy making and personnel appointments in State agencies.

He hopes that the new Prime Minister, who will be elected in the next few days, will be as resolved to fight these irregularities as to protect national sovereignty.

A number of legislators also voiced concerns about unsafe food. Food producers were ignoring regulations to make money, they said, noting that unsafe food was one reason for the surge of cancer cases recently.

For the first time, legislators proposed food safety be listed as a target in the socio-economic development plan between 2016 and 2020. 

VNS