Resolution No. 59/CP of the Government's Regular Meeting in May 1997

RESOLUTION
Regarding the regular meeting of the Government in May 1997

On May 28-29, 1997, the Government convened its regular meeting for May 1997 to discuss and decide on the following issues:

I. The Government has reviewed the report of the Ministry of Commerce on policies and measures to encourage exports. The Government agrees with the assessments and evaluations of the Ministry of Commerce regarding the achievements, difficulties, and favorable conditions in the development of exports.

To implement the strategy of focusing strongly on exports to serve industrialization and modernization, it is necessary to strengthen investment in equipment and technology renewal, improve the competitiveness of export goods, and capture markets. In the immediate term, the Government advocates:

1. Strengthening research and development work for export markets, including both exports abroad and domestic sales.

Ministries responsible for specific sectors and General Companies in charge of certain products are primarily responsible for seeking out and expanding export markets. The Ministry of Commerce will establish a unit to conduct in-depth market research to support policy formulation, create appropriate legal and policy foundations for each market area; enhance trade promotion activities. The Ministry of Commerce will lead coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, and the Government's Organization and Cadre Management Board to complete the reorganization of Trade Offices and Commercial Representatives abroad according to Decree No. 183/CP dated November 18, 1994 by the end of Quarter III/1997. Vietnamese enterprises should promote the establishment of representative offices abroad in accordance with Decree No. 40/CP dated May 19, 1994 to consolidate and develop markets.

2. Encouraging all economic sectors to produce export goods and participate in exports. The Ministry of Commerce will lead coordination with relevant agencies to submit to the Government for issuance in Quarter III/1997 a list of goods that require export business licenses when exported. For other goods, enterprises may export without needing an export business license. For goods managed by quotas and those related to major economic balances, some enterprises from non-state economic sectors may be allowed to participate in exports if they meet the required conditions. The Ministry of Commerce and sector-specific management ministries will develop specific regulatory mechanisms and guidelines to ensure business organizations operate within the law.

The Ministry of Commerce will lead, together with sector-specific management ministries, particularly the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, to review current regulations, propose amendments and supplements to establish a stable long-term mechanism for managing exports and imports, to be submitted to the Government for issuance in Quarter III/1997. Implement state tendering and selling of quota-based export-import licenses to eliminate the "request and grant" mechanism.

3. Implementing policies to encourage exports:

a. Regarding credit: Assign the Ministry of Planning and Investment to lead coordination with the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Finance, and the State Bank to specifically discuss with sector-specific management ministries preferential credit policies (credit forms, interest rates, loan terms and conditions, clearly defining the level of preference) to encourage enterprises to invest in technological renewal, improve the quality of existing export goods, and develop new export products, to be submitted for consideration and decision by the Prime Minister in June 1997.b. Regarding budget capital: The Ministry of Finance will lead coordination with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the State Bank to prepare a report for submission to the Prime Minister in June 1997 on the implementation of the National Investment Support Fund's activities to support deep investment and production of export goods; study policies and measures to mobilize resources to ensure that 30% of working capital is provided to state-owned enterprises producing and trading in key export goods over the next two years, 1997-1998.

c. Regarding taxes: The Ministry of Finance will coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Commerce to study and submit to the Government in June 1997 for amendment and supplementation of tax incentive policies to encourage enterprises producing export goods and engaging in export trade, including enterprises and households supplying raw materials for export production (satellite factories), to expand export capacity and ensure that producers and traders of export goods have savings.

d. Agreeing with the proposal of the Ministry of Commerce on the Export Insurance Fund. This fund will be formed from contributions by enterprises and initial support from the state budget, operating on the principle of preserving and developing the fund. The Ministry of Commerce will lead coordination with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the State Bank to draft the operational regulations of the fund to be signed and issued by the Prime Minister in June 1997.

e. The Ministry of Commerce should promptly study and submit to the Prime Minister for issuance specific regulations on brokerage activities and commission rates in trade, in line with Vietnamese law and international practices.

4. Strengthening state management of exports and imports. The Ministry of Commerce needs to reassess its entire trade management activities and organizational structure to take timely corrective measures; at the same time, coordinate with relevant agencies to develop cooperation regulations to effectively manage and regulate export and import activities in accordance with the Trade Law.

II. The Government has reviewed the report of the Ministry of Planning and Investment on the socio-economic situation in May and the first five months of 1997, and the issues that need focused guidance to implement the plan in the subsequent months. The Government requests:

II. The Government has reviewed the report of the Ministry of Planning and Investment on the socio-economic situation in May and the first five months of 1997, and the issues that need to be focused on for directing the implementation of the plan in the following months. The Government requests:

1. The Ministries, agencies at the level of ministries, government agencies, People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall thoroughly implement the Resolutions of the Ninth National Assembly, tenth session, and the urgent economic measures stated in the Resolution of the Government's regular meeting in April 1997 (Resolution No. 49/CP dated May 6, 1997); conduct a mid-term review of the six-month implementation of the Resolution of the Second Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on Education, Training, Science, and Technology, and take proactive, active, and creative measures to continue implementing these Resolutions effectively.

2. The Ministry of Education and Training shall coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities, and people's organizations to regularly and continuously carry out activities against drug abuse among students and trainees; strengthen student management based on cooperation between schools, organizations, and families.

3. The Ministry of Culture and Information, People's Committees at all levels shall coordinate with people's organizations and mass media to organize propaganda, guidance, and mobilization of the public to eliminate outdated customs, superstitions, and excessive burning of paper offerings; build models for frugal and civilized wedding and funeral ceremonies.

III. Approve the Tourism Ordinance Project. Entrust the General Department of Tourism to cooperate with the Ministry of Justice and the Government Office to complete the ordinance project based on voting results and opinions of attending delegates, to be submitted for consideration by the Prime Minister before being sent to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly; simultaneously prepare guiding documents for submission together with the ordinance project. The Prime Minister shall examine prior to submitting to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly; at the same time, prepare guiding documents for submission concurrently with the ordinance project.

IV. The Government discusses the Construction Law Project. This is an important law project with a wide scope and complexity, but there are still differing opinions within the Government. Entrust the Ministry of Construction to cooperate with the Ministry of Justice and the Government Office to continue researching and perfecting the project for the Government to consider and decide at the next session. During the revision process, focus on clarifying the following issues:

- Strengthen state management over construction planning, investment, and construction activities to address existing shortcomings and deficiencies.

- Clearly define the authority of state management between the Ministry of Construction and other government agencies, enhance the role of local authorities in state management of construction.

- Provisions in the draft law need to be specific, clear, simple, and avoid cumbersome procedures for the public and organizations in construction activities; classify handling methods for unauthorized construction projects so that all levels and sectors can implement uniformly. Issues already regulated by subordinate laws that are suitable for reality should be summarized and selected for inclusion in this draft law.

V. The Government has discussed the Customs Law Project. Due to many important issues not being thoroughly discussed and lacking appropriate solutions, the Government entrusts the General Department of Customs to lead, together with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the State Inspectorate, and the Government Office, to incorporate the opinions of attending delegates, revise the law draft, and submit it to the Government for another session.

VI. Regarding the Draft Disability Ordinance and the Draft Court Fees and Litigation Fees Decree: Entrust the Government Office to complete the Draft Ordinance and Draft Decree based on written opinions from Government members, to be submitted to the Prime Minister by June 1997.

VII. The Government's regular meeting in June 1997 will be held on June 27-28, 1997, to discuss the following items:

- The situation of implementing the socio-economic plan and state budget for the first half of the year, tasks and plans for the second half of 1997.

- Provide opinions on the Draft Projects: Construction Law, Nationality Law, Reward Law, Organization and Operation of Grassroots Mediation Ordinance.

The Ministries of Planning and Investment, Finance, Construction, Justice, and the Government Office shall urgently prepare and review the proposals according to the prescribed procedures and deadlines for submission to the Government.

This Resolution was adopted by the Government on May 29, 1997 and took effect upon issuance.