The Ministry of Construction has cut or simplified 85 per cent out of the 215 business and investment conditions, and eliminated five among the 17 conditional business lines.

The proportion exceeds the 35 per cent requirement set in the Prime Minister’s Directive No 20 to intensify reforms of specialised inspections, and cutting and simplifying business and investment conditions. These figures reflect the efforts made by the ministry’s units to improve the business environment and implement administrative reforms, inside officials said.

At present, the ministry is reviewing the removal of four other conditional business lines stipulated in legal documents.

The ministry took the initiative to address difficulties for businesses by coordinating with the Government Office to organise a national teleconference to solve difficulties and shortcomings on policies and mechanisms related to construction investment. The event was presided over by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

To prepare for the teleconference, it collected and considered over 2,000 petitions from voters, enterprises, and vocational associations and organisations, while coordinating with the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry to hold a conference to listen to the difficulties businesses were facing.

The ministry is currently working with related ministries to realise the outcomes of the teleconference.

It has completed and submitted to the Government a resolution on some tasks and measures to ease difficulties and solve shortcomings on policies and mechanisms related to construction investment.

The ministry received the Government leader’s approval for a directive to step up the implementation of measures to shorten the duration for granting construction licenses and related procedures by more than 40 days.

In the second quarter of 2018, it piloted a single window unit in charge of handling 22 out of 33 administrative procedures under the authority of the Construction Minister.

During the three-month trial, the unit received 47 dossiers, of which 27 were handled as scheduled. — VNS