On October 10, 2023, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, on behalf of the Politburo, signed and issued Resolution No. 41-NQ/TW on building and promoting the role of Vietnamese entrepreneurs in the new era. Resolution No. 41 provides fresh momentum for the business community and entrepreneurs to grow more strongly in the coming period, while also encouraging society as a whole to adopt a new perspective on Vietnamese entrepreneurs.

National Assembly Deputy Nguyen Quang Huan, Member of the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, Technology and Environment and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Halcom Vietnam JSC, shared his views with Business Forum on Resolution No. 41-NQ/TW issued by the Politburo on building and developing the Vietnamese entrepreneur community in the new era.

– Resolution No. 41-NQ/TW affirms that the business community and entrepreneurs are “one of the core forces” in realizing the leadership’s vision of turning Vietnam into a developed, high-income country by 2045. What is your view on this?

The issuance of Resolution No. 41 represents a continuation and further development of the Party’s theoretical perspective on the non-state economic sector. From the 6th National Party Congress in 1986 to the 7th National Party Congress in 1991, the Party affirmed that during the transition to socialism, Vietnam needed to develop a multi-sector economy, including the private economic sector.

Resolution No. 10 of the 12th Party Central Committee affirmed that the private sector is one of the three important driving forces of the economy. The Documents of the 13th National Party Congress continued to emphasize that the private sector plays an important role in Vietnam’s socialist-oriented market economy, while entrepreneurs are recognized as one of the five social groups in contemporary Vietnamese society: workers, farmers, intellectuals, entrepreneurs, and other workers. All these groups are equal, should be provided with favorable conditions, and need to work closely together for mutual development.

The private sector is an important driving force of the economy, while foreign direct investment (FDI) is increasingly encouraged to develop in line with the 2021–2030 Socio-Economic Development Strategy, with a vision to 2045, adopted by the 13th National Party Congress.

However, Resolution No. 41 marks a significant step forward compared with all previous resolutions and policies. For the first time, it sets out both an overall objective and specific objectives to create the best possible conditions for entrepreneurs to develop, with two important milestones: 2030 and 2045.

Resolution No. 41 makes it clear that the Party recognizes that economic development and GDP growth cannot be separated from the non-state and private business sectors.

Today, the private sector contributes 40% of GDP, employs approximately 85% of the workforce, and accounts for 34.1% of total corporate income tax payments, higher than the 27.7% contributed by state-owned enterprises.

By elevating the status of entrepreneurs, Resolution No. 41 also affirms that, for the economy to achieve rapid growth and sustainable development, the private sector represents the greatest potential for driving the successful realization of the goals set by the 13th National Party Congr

Resolution No. 41 will provide a “major impetus” for a series of subsequent actions to institutionalize its objectives through laws, ordinances, decrees, circulars, and implementing guidelines tailored to the development of each sector and industry.

In particular, Resolution No. 41 sets out seven key tasks and solutions, which is highly encouraging for Vietnam’s business community and entrepreneurs.

– Could you elaborate on the seven key tasks and solutions outlined in the Resolution?

Among the seven key tasks and solutions, based on the stakeholders and target areas involved, I would provisionally divide them into five groups of solutions.

The first group primarily focuses on raising awareness among entrepreneurs. At the outset, Resolution No. 41 provides an accurate overview of the current situation of Vietnam’s entrepreneurial community

That is, although they possess a strong sense of national pride and patriotic spirit, some entrepreneurs still lack a sufficiently deep understanding of the need to align economic development with the nation’s development. This prevents the business community from fully harnessing the nation’s resources and vitality as an internal driving force for development, alongside the strength of the times.

Our Party has studied and developed a theoretical framework for development in the new era, emphasizing the need to combine national strength with the strength of the times. Relying solely on national strength without harnessing the strength of the times would prevent the full potential of internal strength from being realized.

Similarly, we need to understand that a business cannot achieve sustainable development if its growth is not aligned with the development of the country and its ability to “keep pace with the times.”

Only when Vietnamese businesses and entrepreneurs recognize this issue will they be able to expand into the region and the world. I believe the first group of solutions is highly appropriate and well-targeted.

The second group of solutions focuses on removing institutional and legal policy obstacles. This is the responsibility of State management agencies, ministries, sectors, and local authorities. It is necessary to establish an open and enabling framework that creates the best possible conditions for Vietnamese businesses and entrepreneurs to develop.

In addition to removing institutional and legal policy obstacles, the second group of solutions also calls for stronger inspection and oversight of regulatory authorities to prevent them from creating unnecessary difficulties for businesses. I believe this group of solutions is particularly strong and specific.

The third group of solutions comprises Tasks and Solutions No. 3, 4, and 5 set out in Resolution No. 41-NQ/TW, focusing directly on entrepreneurs themselves. These measures aim to create favorable conditions for entrepreneurs to choose their own business fields.

Whatever business sector or industry entrepreneurs choose to pursue, the State will prioritize supporting the development of that sector. In addition to their business activities, entrepreneurs and businesses are also expected to uphold their social responsibilities.

If entrepreneurs and businesses fail to fulfill their social responsibilities, it means they are not meeting their obligations to the community and the State. In other words, if they do not align their interests with the common good, their ability to mobilize and leverage resources will also be limited.

Therefore, if entrepreneurs and businesses develop a strong awareness through the first group of solutions, they will be better able to effectively implement the third group of solutions.

In addition, the fifth task within this group of solutions focuses on strengthening connections and ensuring that entrepreneurs do not operate in isolation, but are integrated into the great national unity. This includes stronger connections within the business community, across industries, between entrepreneurs, and between entrepreneurs and intellectuals, workers, and farmers, as well as stronger ties between Vietnamese and foreign entrepreneurs and other groups in society.

The fourth group of solutions is centered on Task and Solution No. 6 in Resolution No. 41, which sets out the responsibilities of VCCI. VCCI is an organization tasked with supporting entrepreneurs and businesses, serving as a bridge between the Party and the State and the business community.

Over the years, VCCI has carried out many positive initiatives to support the business community and entrepreneurs. However, Resolution No. 41 goes further by clearly assigning the Party Committee and leadership of VCCI primary political responsibility to the Party and the State for supporting Vietnam’s business community.

This is a significant responsibility for VCCI, but it will also encourage VCCI to be more determined, focused, and specific in expanding its support for the entire business and entrepreneur community—not only in economic activities, but also in cultural exchange, strengthening political and ideological awareness, and promoting international cooperation. VCCI must develop specific solutions to implement this Resolution.

Given the greater responsibilities assigned to VCCI under Resolution No. 41, I believe the business community will receive stronger support, creating greater momentum for a significant transformation.

The fifth group of solutions (Task and Solution No. 7 in the Resolution) focuses on strengthening the Party’s leadership and the State’s management of the business community and entrepreneurs. It reaffirms the principle that “wherever there are people, there should be Party organizations”—wherever there are business organizations, there should be Party organizations operating to provide more direct and stronger support to entrepreneurs and the business community.

– What recommendations or proposals do you have to ensure that Resolution No. 41 is quickly put into practice among Vietnamese entrepreneurs and businesses?

First, it is necessary to review and amend certain overlapping and conflicting laws, such as the Law on Investment, the Law on Public Investment, the Law on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), and the Land Law. These legal overlaps create significant difficulties for businesses in bidding for and implementing projects due to regulatory constraints.

Second, it is necessary to raise awareness among Party organizations, mass organizations, socio-political organizations, associations, and other relevant bodies. From the central to local levels, they should develop action plans and communication programs within their respective administrative areas and professional associations.

Third, the Resolution must be translated into laws and institutionalized, with clear responsibilities assigned to each relevant agency. At the same time, there should be oversight bodies to monitor the agencies responsible for implementation, ensuring that the laws are put into practice as soon as possible.

Fourth, several localities should be selected as pilot areas for implementing Resolution No. 41. For example, Ho Chi Minh City is currently implementing Resolution No. 98/2023/QH15 of the National Assembly on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the city’s development. As the resolution includes provisions related to the green economy, the contents of Resolution No. 41-NQ/TW could be incorporated into relevant documents, resolutions, or development plans of the city.

Similarly, Hanoi is finalizing the draft revised Capital Law, which could incorporate the provisions on entrepreneur development set out in Resolution No. 41, thereby institutionalizing these policies immediately and linking them to the capital’s development in the coming period.

– Thank you very much for your time!

Source: Business Forum