Changing thinking was critical to enhancing national competitiveness with the country entering a new phase of reforms and room for reforms narrowing. — Photo vtc.vn
Changing thinking was critical to enhancing national competitiveness with the country entering a new phase of reforms and room for reforms narrowing, Nguyen Duc Hieu, deputy director of the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) said.
Hieu was speaking at an online forum held by the Government’s e-portal yesterday, which discussed the efforts of Vietnam Electricity Corporation (EVN) to improving access to electricity and solutions to improve national competitiveness.
In the long term, reforms would be more challenging, requiring hastened efforts, determination and detailed action plans, Hieu said.
He added that reforms must focus on benefits for citizens, enterprises and the economy.
Looking at EVN as an example, Hieu said the improvement in electricity access brought significant benefits which could not be estimated in a specific figure.
A survey conducted by CIEM and the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce found that electricity access was the indicator in which firms felt the most improvements.
According to the World Bank’s Doing Business Report 2019, the electricity access indicator of Viet Nam jumped 37 spots to rank 27 out of 190 countries and territories over the previous year.
Hieu said that the result reflected significant efforts from the EVN.
He said the improvement in electricity access not only helped cut costs for firms but also opened opportunities and promoted investment as investors were more confident about the stability of the economy.
Statistics showed the number of power cuts fell by 24.32 per cent over 2017. Hieu said the benefits were much larger, which also come from the business opportunities and improved investor confidence.
Hieu also said the Government’s goal of improving the business climate to make Viet Nam among leading ASEAN countries by national competitiveness, then equal to the level of member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, was within reach if Viet Nam changed its reform thinking, hastened efforts and was determined. — VNS