Vietnam Oks Extension of UN-funded Business Registration Reform Project

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has approved the extension of the deadline for the Technical Assistance Project for Business Registration Reform in Vietnam to Dec 31, 2013. The project, sponsored by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), is being implemented by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and relevant agencies and organizations. The project aims to provide policy and technical advice to Vietnam when the country is carrying out its nationwide business registration reform. Started in Nov 2008, the first phase of the project established the legal framework for the development of a computerized and consolidated business registration system in 63 cities and provinces based on single point registration for business, tax and statistics, named the National Business Registration System (NBRS). The system standardized enterprise data collected from 65 Business Registration Offices (BROs) and provided an electronic platform of business registration nationwide. The second and third phase will develop nationwide web-enabled information services to disseminate enterprise information for the benefits of the business community and state management agencies. A number of business representatives said that they face difficulties with Vietnam’s cumbersome licensing and registration procedures, particularly the reliance on notary publics to certify business documents. (news.gov.vn Mar 5)