Development for the new spring

The government must take on more difficult tasks, and officials have to put themselves in the position of the people, this should be the spirit of the Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s progressive government.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc checks the social housing at Dang Xa urban area, Gia Lam district, Hanoi.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc checks the social housing at Dang Xa urban area, Gia Lam district, Hanoi.

These days, spring is all over the country. Saying good bye to Binh Than (Year of the Monkey), the country is entering the spring of Dinh Dau (Year of the Rooster). Each spring provides us with an opportunity to review the happenings of the previous year and expect new and good things for the New Year with new aspirations.

The year 2016 saw many important political events of the country: the first year of implementation of Resolutions of 12th Party Congress, Elections of the National Assembly and People’s Councils, the new term of the Government, etc. However, the year was also a tough year, with issues testing the Government’s steering ability and its leader, including: the disadvantaged global economy, low oil prices, natural disasters due to climate change, storms and floods in central Vietnam, drought and salinity in the central highlands and Mekong River Delta, environmental pollution affecting the seas in 4 central provinces, the complicated East Sea situation, together with many other internal problems that have been accumulated over the years.

However, under the leadership of the Politburo, Central Committee, with the unity and determination to overcome hardships, the Government under the Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had proposed various important and effective solutions and directions, to achieve positive socio-economic results in all areas. The macro economy was stable, GDP reached a growth rate of 6.21%, the exchange rate was flexibly managed to suit the development of the market, export and industrial production continued to grow, security, politics and national sovereignty were maintained. People’s trust in the Party’s guidelines, the Government’s management, and the country’s bright future, continue to grow.

Right after the inauguration, a top priority for Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc was the development of the business community. His meeting with the business community was considered as a launching pad for businesses, showing the Government’s determination to help enterprises and solve their difficulties. In the bright sun of southern Vietnam, the heat of the room seemed to increase during the Prime Minister’s speech as he touched upon the enterprises’ concerns. However, they wanted actions to deal with the short comings and weaknesses of the system, not just words. The Prime Minister had established a working group to review and urge the implementation of the Government’s instructions at all ministries and localities, and detailing what each agency has to do.

Thanks to these efforts, the Government has, for many years, not delayed the issuance of sub-law documents. The Prime Minister instructed leaders to put themselves in the shoes of the people. The Government has to take the more difficult parts. Joining many meetings, we realized that the major message from the Prime Minister was that the developmental government, with integrity, build the institution to serve the people and enterprises, considering enterprises as the economic engine. Recently, this message has spread from the Government to ministries and to localities. Some ministries have reviewed and revised the previously issued documents that have been making it difficult for enterprises and people. This effort has helped bring the Government closer to the people, becoming more interactive and influential. We were impressed that at the opening ceremony of the ICT Summit 2016, President of the Vietnam Software Association (Vinasa), Mr. Truong Gia Binh, thanked the Government and the Prime Minister for their efforts in asking the National Assembly to remove Article 292 from the 2015 Penal Code, removing a major obstacle for many software companies. The cheer from the crowd showed their expectation in the real efforts of the Government and the ministries, and that there have been positive changes in the governance and institutional development, rather than managing the enterprises. The unceasing efforts result in the high number of enterprises’ registration, and the re-operation of many others. The private sector, including many small and medium enterprises, is receiving the attention from the Government, with many breakthrough policies for development.

Last year, in regards to food safety, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired the national meeting on food safety. He toured the Long Bien market and fresh vegetable garden outside Hanoi early in the morning, and spot checked a Pho shop, some other meat cake makers, food processing facilities for workers in Ho Chi Minh City, as well as social housing in Hanoi. The Government was also determined to follow the cases until the satisfactory settlement, especially with regard to punishment of civil servants who are causing trouble to the people. There have been many small cases receiving the Prime Minister’s attention, which received the public’s applause. The people were also encouraged when the Prime Minister announced his fight against crime, smuggling, and determination not to exchange economic benefits for environmental loss. Recently, he asked civil servants not to exchange gifts during the Tet Lunar New Year, and advised them not to go to Hanoi to give Tet present to officials in the central agencies. The Government is a role model, and each member of the Government seriously implements the Prime Minister’s instruction. This has received agreement and trust from the public.

Recent efforts made by the Government and the Prime Minister have been highly appreciated by international organizations, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and at the recent Vietnam Business Forum and Vietnam Development Forum, with regard to efforts in managing the macro economy and improving the business environment. The latest Doing Business report by the World Bank has also moved Vietnam’s ranking up by 9 points. Leaders of these organizations all stated that despite slower growth, reaching Vietnam’s growth rate is a major effort by the Government despite many difficulties of the year, and this level of growth is high in the region.

2016 is the year when Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had various external activities, achieving many successes with visits to major countries such as Russia, China, and attended many important conferences including the 11th Asia – Europe Summit in Mongolia, the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summit in Lao, or the G8 summit in Japan where Vietnam was invited for the first time. It shows that the international community considers Vietnam as a positive, active responsible member with contributions to peace, stability, security and prosperity in the region.

The road ahead for the Year of the Rooster is still difficult with many challenges. But with the intellectuality and bravery of the new government, with the foundation that was built up last year, we can believe that the country will be developed to reach a new height.