VietNamNet Bridge - After a month of taking office, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has had four meetings with the cabinet, the business community and workers, visited seven provinces and received 20 foreign delegations.

The first Prime Minister sworn in office

PM Phuc at the sworn-in ceremony.

On April 74 morning, shortly after being elected by the National Assembly as the head of government, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc was sworn in before the NA and the people.

This was the first time the head of the Government made a formal oath when taking office, as stipulated in Article 70 of the Constitution 2013.

“As the head of the highest State administrative agency, which exercises the executive power and is the executive body of the National Assembly, the whole Cabinet members and I will try our best to build a strong, united, unanimous, effective and efficient Government with drastic activities; wholeheartedly serve the people with all our might; successfully fulfill the functions and tasks as prescribed by the Constitution and law under the leadership of the Party, the supervision, cooperation and support of the National Assembly, the State President, the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, and the whole people,” he said in the first speech at the sworn-in ceremony.

Close guidance

Upon taking office, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc issued close guidance to handle urgent cases that stirred up the public such as the criminalization of the case related to the Xin Chao coffee shop in HCM City and the massive fish deaths along the central coast.

The massive fish death in four provinces in central Vietnam is the most serious environmental incident so far. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc requested the provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien - Hue to review, compile statistics of fish-farming households and fishermen affected by the incident to assist them.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc instructed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the People’s Committee of Ha Tinh province to report on the licensing and supervision of the wastewater discharge system at Taiwanese Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Company.

The PM instructed them to spell out responsibilities of related individuals and organizations and install an automatic observation station at the discharge spot of the company, which will connect with the station of the province’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment, to take samples and control the discharge at Formosa.

PM Phuc tasked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the governments of the four provinces to take a look at all coastal production establishments that have been discharging waste.

They must prevent these establishments from releasing wastewater into the sea without environmental observation and secure discharge sources affecting the marine environment.

He assigned the Minster of Science and Technology to work with the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology’s chairman and related ministries and agencies to soon address the causes.

They can mobilize assistancefrom foreign scientists to reach objective and independent conclusions.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment was assigned to be the speaking agency over the fish death, and report to the PM measures to deal with violators in accordance with the law, not excluding any individual and organization.

The Ministry of Public Security must step up investigation over environmental violations in the central region and crack down on those breaking the law.

Relevant agencies are responsible for supplying the police force with necessary documents and evidencefor the investigation.

PM Phuc ordered related ministries including the Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Rural Development, Natural Resources and Environment to immediately announce the locations of safe fishing grounds to fishermen and safe aquatic products to citizens.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and local authorities were told to order businesses to buy offshore fishing products that have been tested/certified safety for consumers.

The Ministry of Information and Communications was tasked to instruct press agencies to report about the dead fish case accurately and objectively, encourage fishermen to continue catching at waters 20 nautical miles from the shore.

It should provide the press with orthodox and timely information to inform citizens of safe seafood products having clean certificates and safe water for human activities in central coastal provinces, PM Phuc said.

The State Bank of Vietnam was instructed to ask commercial banks to extend debt payment deadline for fishermen and continue loaning them with preferential interest rate to resume production.

The Ministry of Public Security and local authorities were ordered to continue investigation; handle those that have incited citizens over dead fish and induce them to gather causing public disorder, affecting the lives of citizens, political security and investment environment and causing economic damage.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has also approved proposals to allocate rice and funds to fishermen and assist them in collecting and destroying dead fish.

Regarding the case in which the police of Binh Chanh district, HCM City, prosecuted Nguyen Van Tan, the owner of the Xin Chao cafe, for “illegal business”, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked the relevant agencies in HCM City to stop criminalizing the case.

Two important dialogues

PM Phuc at the dialogue with workers.

After taking office, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said one of the priorities is administrative reform and building a favorable investment -business climate.

The Prime Minister had two important dialogues with the business community and workers.

On April 29 he chaired the Vietnam Business Conference 2016 with the themed "Vietnam Business - Motivation for economic development of the country" in HCM City. The first dialogue between Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and cabinet members with the business community lasted for 5 hours.

The PM quoted Presdent Ho Chi Minh as saying that the business community, the biggest force of GDP and job generation, should be given attention, listened to and provided with favorable condition to grow.

The Party and the State have deployed numerous guidelines and policies for business development, he stressed, admitting the prevalence of barriers to enterprises, which form the leading economic force.

The Vietnamese Government, he said, always protects the rights to asset and business of people and enterprises, does not criminalize economic ties, and facilitate enterprises' integration towards priding the country on “Made in Vietnam" products.

He said he believed that the conference would consolidate business people's confidence to move forward with production and business, thus contributing to national development.

The meeting conveyed the message that business circle is the driving force of the economy. If the circle is strong, the country is powerful. The Government expected to learn obstacles against businesses, said PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc in his opening remarks.

The Government also expected the businesses to partner with it to build up a favorable business environment conducive to them.

 Phuc affirmed that the Government pledged to protect businesses, not to criminalize economic relations, and create an equal playground for all businesses. The Government should also consider cutting taxes and beefing up partnership between domestic and foreign invested enterprises instead of just luring foreign direct investment.

A day later, in Dong Nai province, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with about 3,000 workers from the southern provinces of Dong Nai, HCM City, Binh Duong, Ba Ria Vung Tau, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Long An, and Tien Giang in a bid to affirm the Government’s key messages and gain support of the business circle for its top priority of creating most favorable conditions for the development of businesses-the driving force of the national economy.

The National Wages Council had decided to raise the minimum wage by 12% to assist laborers following its discussions with relevant agencies, he told the participating workers.

He affirmed that the Government will continue curbing inflation and controlling inflation.

PM Phuc urged trade unions to ensure food safety and hygiene at factories by making public the origin of food.

According to Phan Thanh Tung, a worker of Prime Asia Vietnam in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, many companies do not pay social insurance premiums for workers. He asked the PM to take measures to address this matter.

In response, PM Phuc said that social insurance is one of the three pillars of the social security policy.

Social insurance agencies will be allowed to inspect social insurance payments by companies under new regulations that will come into effect in months to come. Companies which evade social insurance payment liabilities shall be fined up to VND3 billion.

4 meetings with cabinet members

PM Phuc at a cabinet meeting.

Immediately after the closing of the 13th National Assembly, on April 12 afternoon, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired the first meeting with members of the new Government to immediately start working to ensure the smooth, effective and efficient direction and administration of the Government.

On April 25 morning, the Prime Minister chaired the first meeting of the Permanent cabinet member with leaders of ministries and agencies to resolve problems in the implementation of the Enterprise Law and the Investment Law, on the spirit of supporting and protecting production and business, reducing administrative procedures, improving the business environment. The Prime Minister asked to "remove barriers, support and protect business."

To address the urgent matter of unsafe food, on April 27, the Prime Minister chaired a national conference on strengthening the work of ensuring food safety.

Addressing the event, PM Phuc stressed that unhygienic food not only affect Vietnamese's health but also the nation's prestige. He called for taking drastic, comprehensive measures to resolve the problem to live up to people’s aspirations.

Besides local expenditure, the Government leader mentioned the necessity to promote social engagement in technical procurement. Heaviest administrative penalties, even criminal charges will be imposed on infringements of food hygiene regulations.

The Government chief also asked for regular investigations and communication campaigns to raise public awareness of food safety. Right after the conference, the PM planned to issue a fresh directive to tighten State control of food hygiene.

On May 4-5, the Government's regular meeting took place in Hanoi.

At the meeting, the PM pointed to a flurry of problems such as high levels of bad debt, and saltwater intrusion in the southwestern region and drought in the Central Highlands.

The situation gets worse as inflation has shown signs of increase and economic growth in the first quarter of this year has dipped compared with the corresponding time last year, he said.

In that context, PM Phuc noted that management work has yet to observe the principles of the market economy, resulting in low competitiveness.

Businesses have had less chance to benefit from a favorable climate, he said, adding that bad deeds like wastefulness and bureaucracy have still been seen in State agencies.

Given this, the leader called for more efforts to build a pure Government who stays away from corruption, wastefulness and other bad deeds, saying the PM himself and Cabinet members should set bright examples in this regard.

He requested agencies and authorities at all levels to better care for people’s material and spiritual life while taking measures to meet the growth target of 6.7 percent, curb inflation and support those residing in areas prone to natural disasters.

The Government’s objective is to facilitate the operation of businesses, he stressed, adding that 2016 has been designated as the national year of start-ups, especially targeting young entrepreneurs.

Other crucial jobs are to ensure democracy among people, particularly disadvantaged groups, and build institutions, especially those in conformity with technological advances and economic rules.

To achieve more marked successes, socio-economic management should be based on the population, he underscored.

Working in 7 provinces

Within one month, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc worked in 7 provinces of Lai Chau, Quang Tri, Quang Nam, HCM City, Dong Nai, Ha Tinh and Hai Phong.

Going to Quang Tri, Quang Nam, and Lai Chau to attend the conferences on investment promotion, tourism promotion and to kick off a number of major projects, the Prime Minister confirmed the message of creating the most favorable conditions for investment and business enterprises.

The Prime Minister was in HCM City and Dong Nai to chair the online conferences with more than 500 businesses and the dialogue with about 3,000 workers.

On May 1, the Prime Minister was in Ha Tinh to address the mass fish death in the central region.

Receiving 20 delegations from 10 countries

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.

In one month, the PM received guests from Japan, the US, China, Russia, South Korea, Laos, the UK, the Philippines, and Kuwait.

In addition to diplomatic officials, the Prime Minister also met with nine representatives of international organizations and corporations such as Victoria Kwakwa - National Director of the World Bank (WB); Roberto Azevedo, General Director of World Trade Organization (WTO); and Philipp Rösler - CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF) ...

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed that Vietnam always considers the private sector the engine of growth and Vietnam is a responsible member of the WTO.

Compiled by Tran Cham