Workers at Hoang Ha Colour Ceramic Joint Stock Company in northern Quang Ninh Province. The number of private sector enterprises more than doubled during the 2006-11 period, partly thanks to policies to encourage the sector's expansion. — VNA/VNS Photo Manh Tu

This underlines the effectiveness of policies that encouraged a diversity in business ownership and the equitisation of State-owned enterprises in Viet Nam over the last few years, said deputy head of the General Statistics Office (GSO) Tran Thi Hang.

According to the 2012 census of administration, businesses and agencies, which was carried out from between April to July 2012, there were 3,230 State-owned enterprises, accounting for 1 per cent of all enterprises.

The number of private sector enterprises made up the vast majority, recording 96.2 per cent with FDI companies making up the remaining 2.8 per cent. This indicates that the number of FDI companies had doubled from 2006 to 2011.

It also revealed that by the end of 2011, out of 341,600 registered enterprises, roughly 312,600 were still operating, said Hang, who released the report last week.

This was 8.5 times more than in 2000 when the Law on Enterprises came into effect.

These businesses employed nearly 11 million people, 67 per cent higher than in 2006, which was reported in the 2007 census.

In 2011, they had mobilised a combined capital of VND14.86 trillion (US$703 million ), 4.4 times more than the 2006 figure.

However, 23.5 per cent of the capital was held by State-owned companies, which made up only one per cent of enterprises, Hang added.

On top of that, the size of businesses had diminished, as on average each employed 33 workers, 38 per cent less than in 2006.

In 2011, 53.9 per cent of enterprises reported a profit and 42.9 per cent suffered losses, while the percentage in 2006 was 65 per cent and 31.1 per cent respectively.

The national survey also reveals that Viet Nam has almost 5.2 million administrative offices, businesses and agencies, an increase of 27.4 per cent.

On average, the number has risen annually by 5 per cent while between 2001 and 2006, growth was recorded at 7.6 per cent.

These offices, businesses and agencies also employ 22.8 million people throughout the country.

The number of healthcare centres has increased by 14 per cent and nowadays every commune in the country has one.

However, on average, the ratio of doctors per 10,000 people was 8.31, much lower than in neighbouring countries, who have about 15-20 doctors for every 10,000 people. — VNS