UNIS/INF/273
11 August 2008

Re-issued as received

Norway and UNIDO Contribute US$5.2 Million to Business Registration Reform in Vietnam

VIENNA, 11 August (UN Information Service) -- The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), the Royal Norwegian Embassy and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) signed [on 7 August 2008] the technical assistance project entitled "Technical Assistance to Business Registration Reform in Vietnam", with a total budget of US$8.9 million. Module I of Phase I is funded by NORAD, the Government of Norway, (US$ 4.2 million) and UNIDO (US$ 1 million).

The Agency for SME Development (ASMED) under MPI, will implement the project, in close collaboration with the General Department of Tax (GDT), under the Ministry of Finance (MOF), the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) and the General Statistics Office (GSO) at the central level and Business Registration Offices in 63 provinces.  Mr. Truong Van Doan, Vice Minister of MPI said, "Business registration reform will reduce the cost and time for completion of business, tax, statistics and seal registration requirements by simplification and standardization of pre-registration and registration procedures and steps in one consolidated application form.

There will be nationwide access to official information on enterprises. Single-point-registration services will be performed by 63 Business Registration Offices at provinces and ensure the same level of service regardless of business location. Each registered enterprise will have a unique ID, which will be the same as the tax code for that enterprise." Mr. Kjell Magne Storløkken, Ambassador of Norway indicated, "Norway appreciates the steps taken by the Vietnamese Government in private sector development and public administration reform.

In the post WTO accession period, consolidated registration reform will contribute to improved transparency in the business environment, facilitate the implementation of the Enterprise Law and reduce the transaction costs and risks in executing business activities in Vietnam. Norway's Brønnøysund Registers Center will be an active partner of the project." Ms. Nilgun Tas, UNIDO Representative pointed out that, "The National Business Registry will facilitate information sharing between the ministries and offices involved, reduce duplicate use of business names and offer web-enabled services, including on-line submission of registration applications. MPI will also invest in information and communication systems and train staff.

By 2010, the time for completion of registration procedures will be significantly reduced. Subsequent modules of technical assistance will set up a web-based information distribution system and the filing of audited, annual financial statements of shareholding enterprises as required by the Enterprise Law". The project will be implemented under the UN's "One Plan", a joint action programme between the Government and all 14 resident UN organizations in Vietnam.

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For further information, please contact:

Dag Larsson
Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) Oslo, Norway
Telephone: (+47) 222 420 30
Fax: (+47) 222 420 31
Email: dl@norad.no

     Nilgün F. Taş
Representative, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
Vietnam Country Office
Telephone:(+84) 482 244 90
Fax: (+84) 494 224 84
Email: N.Tas@unido.org

Le Quang Manh
Deputy Director General Agency for SME Development
The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI)
Telephone: (+84) 080 443 24
Fax: (+84) 473 421 89
Email: manhlq@business.gov.vn