Beyond providing counsel and establishing business and investment mechanisms and policies, the justice sector of Tien Giang has implemented a multitude of solutions. These include law dissemination, offering legal support to businesses, and facilitating dialogues between the government and businesses. These efforts, as articulated by Mr. Pham Cong Hung, Director of the Tien Giang Department of Justice, have been instrumental in accelerating administrative reform, boosting competitiveness, and fostering an open business environment.
Mr. Pham Cong Hung - Director of Tien Giang of the Department of Justice (left)
What strategies have you implemented to expedite administrative reform and enhance the business environment and the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI)?
First of all, we have proactively collaborated with relevant entities to counsel and release numerous directives, guidance documents, and inspection protocols. We have orchestrated training sessions and workshops on legal matters, evaluating the construction, promulgation, inspection, revision, and supervision of laws.
Our efforts extend to the review and systematization of documents, enabling us to promptly recommend to competent authorities the amendment, supplementation, annulment, or replacement of inappropriate documents impeding business development. We've collaborated on researching and enhancing legal policies to attract a broader investor base, elevate the business environment, and mitigate legal compliance costs.
Our engagement with relevant bodies involves disseminating information and furnishing legal support for enterprises, employing diverse communication formats to ensure comprehensive outreach.
Moreover, we have regularly updated newly issued legal documents to the National Legal Database and local electronic information portal; compiled legal documents on investment, taxes, fees and charges, labor and employment and publish them to the public, hence helping raise knowledge and awareness of law enforcement of public employees, citizens and businesses.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, we have organized four seminars aimed at gathering insights from individuals and businesses on the topic of “Assessing laws and enforcement practices on environmental protection to promote circular economy in Vietnam today and recommendations for improvements". These seminars were held at various locations including the Cam Son Commune People’s Committee in Cai Lay district, the Cai Lay District People’s Committee, the Tien Giang Industrial Parks Authority, and the Department of Justice.
These initiatives have led to the proposal of several recommendations to refine the legal framework surrounding the circular economy in the near future.
What are the key achievements of Tien Giang after four years of implementing the Business Legal Support Program (2020-2024)?
After four years of implementation, the Business Legal Support Program has produced remarkable results as follows:
Notably, the department updated 1,073 legal documents, policies and information on the legal support section on its website and the province's websites; organized 24 events on implementation of business-related legal regulations such as the Law on SME Support, the Bidding Law and the Investment Law; received and provided legal advice to 3,519 individuals and organizations seeking to establish and dissolve businesses.
We coordinated to advise the Provincial People's Committee to establish a working group to visit 47 companies to inform, advise and answer regulations on social insurance, health insurance and other matters; supported electronic transactions and declarations in social insurance collection and payment fields; established a working team to inspect the performance of the Public Administration Reform Index (PAR Index) and the Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI).
The department also advised on organization of 12 direct business dialogues chaired by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, which attracted more than 100 companies to take part in. Annually, it collaborated with relevant bodies to organize meetings and dialogues between the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee with workers and farmers, between banks and enterprises, and startup workshops.
Especially, the “Business Coffee” Talkshow has successfully established a dynamic platform for entrepreneurs and local leaders to engage in productive dialogue. For local leaders, this initiative offers a unique opportunity to adopt the perspective of these enterprises, thereby gaining valuable market insights. The constructive criticism received through these interactions can guide them in refining their management strategies and making informed, appropriate decisions.
Legal advice for people
What steps will Tien Giang take to overcome challenges and ensure the “Improving the quality and effect of legal support for businesses (2021-2030)” project yields substantial results?
To achieve practical project results, the province will further review business-related documents to recommend competent authorities to amend, supplement or issue new documents accordingly to ensure that businesses have access to a transparent legal system and limit legal risks in business.
Additionally, attention is paid to arranging competent and qualified legal officers to provide legal support for businesses; improving training on legal knowledge and skills; and update legal regulations in a timely manner to meet legal consulting requirements of companies.
In the coming time, the province will coordinate with ministries and agencies to organize training programs for legal units and legal officers in enterprises. This is a force that plays an important role in helping businesses research, approach and carry out production and business by law; helps business leaders negotiate, draft and sign economic and commercial contracts, especially with foreign partners; and ensures legal safety and economic benefits.
Given the increase in the Legal Institutions and Security Order Index in 2022, how does the justice sector plan to further improve this score in the future?
The justice sector has made efforts to improve the province's Legal Institutions and Security Order Index, which has risen since 2020.
To improve this index, the justice sector will pay attention to promoting legal communications and education, diversifying forms of disseminating legal knowledge, policies, and support for businesses by organizing conferences and seminars on legal knowledge and using mass media, electronic information pages/portals and social networks, effectively maintaining contact hotlines and information channels to promptly receive and respond to feedback from people and businesses.
The sector will also further review legal documents, monitor law enforcement, collect information, investigate and survey law enforcement practices to detect overlapping, inadequacy or obstacles in practice to request competent authorities to promptly amend, supplement, abolish or replace inappropriate regulations. At the same time, it will employ the law as a tool to protect legitimate rights and interests of businesses and workers; prevent and limit legal disputes; support skills in handling situations and assist businesses in solving difficulties that arise in practice.
Last but not least, the Department of Justice will reinforce coordination with relevant agencies such as the People's Court, the People's Procuracy, the Provincial Civil Judgment Enforcement Agency, the Bar Association and other departments and agencies; strengthen management of lawyers’ activities, judicial assessments and bailiffs to facilitate businesses to access legal services to ensure their rights and interests.
Thank you very much!
Source: Vietnam Business Forum
Vietnamese
October 2024
Hanoi