Workers pack instant noodles at HCM City's Colusa-Miliket Food Co. Companies expect the business environment to improve this year. — VNA/VNS Photo Dinh Hue

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The majority of enterprises and business associations in Viet Nam feel that the business environment will be better in 2015.

Director of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Vu Tien Loc said this at an end-of-the-year meeting of southern associations and businesses.

Loc asserted that the Government's efforts to maintain macro-economic stability and rein in inflation have worked, enhancing business confidence and helping enterprises to better design their production strategies to overcome difficulties.

However, experts warned that Vietnamese firms still face competitiveness, while private companies, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises, are still facing difficulties.

Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Viet Nam Cashew Association Dang Hoang Giang said that businesses share the hope that in 2015, the Government will continue to roll out effective measures to remove obstacles in tax and customs policies.

They also expect a more favourable investment environment and more support in settling trade disputes to better protect the legitimate rights of Vietnamese firms and goods in the international arena.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Thi Anh Thu from the HCM City Mechanics Association stressed that enterprises are in need of a fair and level playing ground, as well as consultations on improving their competitiveness for global integration.

At the same time, Chairman of the HCM City Business Association Huynh Van Minh proposed that associations and firms should evaluate both the economic prospects and challenges for 2015, thus mapping out suitable development strategies.

Minh also said that business circles should give more feedback on policies to promote their efficiency.

VCCI leader Loc noted that since the introduction of the Viet Nam Enterprise Law, more than 700,000 firms have been set up. However, only 500,000 companies maintain their operations, with 40 per cent of them making profit. — VNS