Firms join corruption fight

Enhancing the role of the business sector in combating corruption topped the agenda at a conference held in HCM City yesterday.

Despite the country’s achievements in the last 24 years, however, its Doi moi (renewal) process faces from many challenges, especially corruption, Dinh Van Minh, deputy director of the Government Inspectorate Research Institute, said.

“Corruption occurs in many sectors and levels of government, causing negative effects on many aspects of society,” he said.

“Corruption causes great loss of property to the State, collectives, and people, and reduces people’s trust in the Party and State.

“It is a major obstacle to social and economic development and increases the cost of doing business”

It is time to take drastic measures to fight corruption to build a fair and prosperous society, he said.

The inefficiency of government agencies, failure by many localities to serious action against corruption, and the inconsistence of anti-corruption mechanisms and regulations are considered to be the major causes of corruption, he said.

Firms and business and professional associations are at the centre of the fight against corruption since they determine the health of the economy and use most public services but are targeted by corrupt officials.

Doan Duy Khuong, deputy chairman of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “The business community plays a key role in … combating corruption.”

Minh called on companies and business associations to propagate the Law on Anti-corruption among their staff and workers to raise awareness of corruption and its impacts.

They should actively participate in reviewing the State’s policies and developing a healthy, corruption-free business culture.

They should improve their legal understanding so that they are more confident when work with civil authorities, having reasons to combat with corruption acts, he said.

“Anti-corruption efforts will be effective when there is widespread understanding of corruption and its impacts and joint efforts by various sections,” he added.

Nguyen Thi Lien, deputy director of Phong Phu International Joint Stock Company, said corruption remains rife because of the complex administrative procedures.

“Though administrative procedures have improved remarkably they remain complicated, causing inconvenience to businesses.”

The Government thus therefore continue to reform them and scrap unnecessary procedures, she added.

Nguyen Thi Kieu Vien of Transparency International, a global coalition against corruption, listed tools developed by her organisation for assessing corruption in the private sector.

They include guides like “Business Principles for Countering Bribery,” “TI Self-Evaluation Tool,” and “Collaboration tools: Resist.” — VNS

Tags: Vietnam companies, Vietnam enterprises