Anne Molyneux from IFC shares corporate governance experience at the conference. — Photo baodautu.com

Hieu gathered with more than 300 local and international participants at a conference held by International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and Deloitte Viet Nam, in partnership with the Ha Noi and HCM Stock Exchanges to help local listed companies adopt international best practices in corporate governance to boost their appeal to foreign investors and spur growth.

Hieu said under the World Bank's ASEAN corporate governance scorecard, Viet Nam ranked the lowest among six regional countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand between 2012 and 2014.

Thailand had the highest score of 84.53 per cent while Viet Nam was placed lowest with 35.14 per cent, said Hieu, adding that the low rate also implicated high risks, thus not many investors would spend their money on such a market.

While the Government of Viet Nam was trying to mobilise more capital from the stock market, the low rate of corporate governance would minimise the attraction of the local market.

The conference, which also provided updates of the revised Enterprises Law as well as international best practices in corporate governance and their relevance for Vietnamese companies.

Under the revised law, put into effect last July, public and listed companies were also allowed to set up an audit committee under the Board of Directors, without having a supervisory board, subject to requirements.

This is the first time the definition and role of an independent director in the company's Board of Directors has been introduced in the Law on Enterprise.

"Businesses need to be aware of the vital role of corporate governance and a board's audit committee in overseeing the effectiveness and integrity of internal controls," said Ha Thu Thanh, chairwoman of Deloitte Viet Nam. Thanh added that her company was trying to support companies and the market improve transparency, increase efficiency and enhance resilience.

"As competition grows among countries in the region, improving corporate governance in line with internationally accepted practices will help Vietnamese companies become more sustainable and attractive to investors," said Chris Razook, IFC Corporate Governance Lead for East Asia and the Pacific.

Chris Razook also said "enhanced corporate governance will also strengthen the development of Viet Nam's capital markets and benefit the overall economy."

Nguyen Thanh Long, HNX chairman appreciated the revised law, saying that he would help listed companies adopt international best corporate governance practices, as part of the government's drive to ensure better corporate governance.

Long thought companies would benefit tremendously from attending this conference, which will help them take their corporate governance to a new level.

CIEM deputy chairman Hieu, who also contributed to the law said companies should be aware that the law only required the minor conditions for practicing corporate governance, adding they encouraged companies to perform better to build their own corporate governance.

Hieu thought further cost and human resources for better corporate governance might discourage some companies to apply such measures, however, they needed to recognise how it could benefit them in gaining investors' trust and develop the sustainability of their enterprises.

According to Nguyen Thi Nguyet Anh, corporate governance officer from IFC, said "Viet Nam needs to have a certain change in corporate governance in order to improve the quality of the local companies and to make the market more attractive."

Anh said more and more companies have been paying attention to the issue since 2007 when IFC started working with the Vietnamese government to improve the country's regulations and investment climate, raise public awareness of good corporate governance, build the capacity of its partners, and provide governance advice to individual companies. — VNS