Resolution No. 19 gradually bridges the gap between the policy and practice
For 4 consecutive years (2014 - 2017), Resolution No. 19 on improving the business environment and  enhancing national competitiveness has become the “brand” of the Government. However, after four years coming into force, a large number of Res. 19 contents  remained unfulfilled and the demands of the business community are far greater than the reform scope of Res. 19. This is the reason why the government continues setting out higher and more comprehensive goals, requiring the involvement of all parties in Res. 19 of 2017 version.
In Hanoi, the City People’s Committee issued Plan No. 74/KH-UBND on implementing Res. 19 dated 6/2/2017. According to the plan, Hanoi will continue  performing the tasks and main solutions to improve the business environment and enhance the  city’s competitiveness in 2017 with a view  to 2020. Hanoi strives to be one of the leading municipalities in the application of the Electronic Government. Specifically, 40-50% of online services will beat level 3, 4 will be provided by the end of 2017.

The Minister of Planning and Investment has instructed the subordinate agencies to translate the tasks assigned in action plans and programs which define concrete responsibilities. In particular, the responsibilities of the leader are also identified more clearly and associated with specific targets.
Also in compliance with Resolution No. 19-2017/NQ-CP the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Action Plan includes the Project for “National Program to Support Innovative Startup Ecosystem until 2025”. It is aimed  to promote research and technology transfer and encourage enterprises of all economic sectors to participate in research, development and technological innovation.
In all, the government agencies are implementing reforms in three major areas: Institutional policies, information technology application in management and bureaucratic reforms. In this spirit, the Ministry of Industry and Trade abolished a series of cumbersome regulations, such as energy labeling before customs clearance, rice exporters plan. Although there are still a lot of tasks unfulfilled by Ministry of Industry and Trade, by abolishing the unnecessary regulations, the Ministry is showing determination to support businesses.
Speaking at a conference, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam once required government agencies not only “support and remove obstacles” but also facilitate investment and business so as to reduce production cost and  legal risk of doing business in Vietnam. The  Res. 19 shows the Government’s new ideas and visions with strict requirements for improving institutions, business environment, enhancing national competitiveness and taking the economy into a higher stage of development.
Resolution No. 35 – A new breeze for the business community
After one year of implementation, the Resolution No. 35 is regarded as a new breeze to support production and business. The resolution is aimed at supporting and developing the business community, focusing on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which make up  97% of the total Vietnamese businesses.
As an outcome of Res. 35, the first quarter of 2017 see  5,800 newly established enterprises in Hanoi with registered capital of 39.8 trillion dong, 12 percent higher in terms of the business capital and 7 percent higher in terms of registered capital year on year. “This figure shows Hanoi’s efforts to accelerate administrative reforms, including online business registration,” said Deputy Director of Ha Noi Department of Planning and Investment Tran Ngoc Nam. Up to now, about 68% of businesses have registered online.
Meanwhile,   Mac Quoc Anh, Vice Chairman and General Secretary of Hanoi Association of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (Hanoisme), said that the Association was assigned to improve business environment towards fairness, friendliness and openness. In particular, as a member of the Steering Committee in charge of removing obstacles and improving the business environment of Hanoi, the Association is working closely  with the city’s departments and branches ro brief  enterprises on removing barriers of  capital, market, tax and customs procedures. The Association has met regularly with   member companies to deal with obstacles, learn about the business situation  and organize intra-trade promotion programs every month since 2016.

According to feedback from the business community, the Hanoi city’s agencies  have made progress in  administrative procedures. Public servants are becoming more helpful to businesses and their  attitude has improved. The business registration procedures have been shortened to 3 days. There have been innovations in issuing the license and certificate. In addition, the banking sector has eased loan procedures for the enterprises together with thorough assessment of business plans. Tax and customs procedures have been less cumbersome.
However, there are still lots of room for improvement.  Reform only succeeds if  public servant performs with  a good sense of responsibility and not under pressure from superior.  According to Chairman of VCCI Vu Tien Loc, socio-economic development is linked  to enterprise development and support. In broader terms, both resolutions 19 and 35 target at having  1,000,000 enterprises in operation until 2020. To achieve this goal, the Government has made important decisions: Government Creates - Government Serves - Government acts for the people and for businesses to ensure a safe and favorable business environment.