On the afternoon of October 18, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a meeting of the Government’s Standing Committee with associations and businesses to address bottlenecks in conformity assessment—a critical issue causing delays and increased costs for many enterprises. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Ministers Nguyen Chi Dung, Tran Hong Ha, Ho Duc Phoc, and Le Thanh Long, along with leaders from various ministries, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), and industry representatives.
During the session, delegates highlighted overlapping and cumbersome regulations in current technical standards and procedures. Many businesses expressed frustration over redundant inspections and complex paperwork, which hinder production timelines and inflate expenses. All participants urged the government to streamline processes and finalize management mechanisms for smoother conformity declarations.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the spirit of *”enterprises leading, public-private partnership, national prosperity, and citizen well-being.”* He directed agencies to fulfill their responsibilities transparently, prioritizing citizens and businesses.
The Prime Minister noted that the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), alongside other ministries, had drafted two landmark laws—the *Law on Standards and Technical Regulations* and the *Law on Product and Goods Quality*—to eliminate long-standing redundancies. These laws shift focus from pre-market inspections to risk-based post-market controls, aligning with international practices and reducing burdens on businesses.
Prime Minister assigns MOST as the lead agency to resolve conformity assessment challenges. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
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Key reforms include waiving or reducing conformity declarations for low-risk products meeting sector-specific standards. The government vows to eliminate redundant permits and digitize processes for transparency, minimizing administrative costs.
MOST will coordinate with the Ministry of Justice, Agriculture and Rural Development, Health, and other agencies to review 824 active national technical regulations, categorizing them by risk for updates or repeal. New standards will be published proactively to guide businesses.
For agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will revise laws (e.g., Veterinary, Livestock, Crop Production, Fisheries) to simplify compliance for veterinary drugs and feed. Advanced systems like ISO 22000, GMP, and HACCP will enhance traceability and reduce testing needs.
The Ministries of Construction, Industry and Trade, Health, and Finance will jointly revise regulations to prevent new technical barriers, while developing a national database for standards and digital platforms for transparent oversight.
The Prime Minister stressed stricter enforcement against food safety and pharmaceutical violations, with penalties for negligent officials. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a stable, transparent business environment, urging associations to provide feedback for policy refinement.
– 12:00 19/10/2025
Prime Minister: Boldly Entrust Private Enterprises with National Infrastructure Development
Speaking at the group discussion session on the afternoon of October 12th, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that it is time to boldly allow private enterprises to participate in major infrastructure projects. This approach effectively mobilizes societal resources, reduces the burden on the state budget, while ensuring the quality and timely completion of projects.
Prime Minister: Social Housing Should Not Be in Remote or Inconvenient Locations, Nor Limited to High-Rise Buildings
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that social housing should not be limited to high-rise buildings but can also include low-rise structures. He stressed that these housing projects must not be located in remote, inaccessible areas or on marginal land, but rather in well-developed locations with adequate infrastructure.
Streamlining Governance: Cutting 145,000 Public Sector Jobs to Save $1.6 Billion Annually
Following the restructuring of the administrative apparatus, the total number of civil servants and public employees has been reduced by 145,000, resulting in an annual decrease in regular expenditures by 39 trillion VND.
Prime Minister Calls on Businesses to Lead the Charge in Developing Affordable Social Housing
Prime Minister calls upon businesses to step forward and take on the vital task of developing affordable housing, emphasizing their responsibility to the people, particularly those with low incomes.
Prime Minister Outlines 5 Aspirations and 3 Pioneering Roles for Businesses and Entrepreneurs
On the afternoon of October 9th in Hanoi, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính chaired a conference to meet with outstanding business representatives and entrepreneurs nationwide in celebration of Vietnamese Entrepreneurs’ Day (October 13th). During the conference, the Prime Minister expressed five aspirations and three pioneering expectations for businesses and entrepreneurs.
