International Conference “Investment Environment in the path way to Sustainable Development in Vietnam”

07/11/2013 08:23

Following the successful conferences on "Public Policy and Sustainable Development" which was held annually, on November 4th 2013, VNU-UEB has successfully organized the International Conference "Environment investment in the path way to sustainable development in Vietnam" funded by Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), Germany.

The conference aimed at creating a forum for local and international scientists, experts to exchange opinions and scientific opinion regarding the investment environment of Vietnam in the path way to sustainable development.

The conference has drawn the attention of international experts as well as the leading research consultant experts in Vietnam, representatives of associations, academic institutions, universities. On behalf of VNU-UEB, there were representatives of the managing board, leaders of units, lecturers and students.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Hong Son made the opening speech

Opening at the conference, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Hong Son, Rector of VNU-UEB emphasized the importance of studying theoretical and practical issues in relationship between investment environment and sustainable development. Especially in the context of Vietnam development strategy in the period of 2011 - 2020 to focus on sustainable development, including: maintaining sustainable economic growth, gradually implementing green growth, developing clean energy, renewable energy; implementing sustainable consumption and manufacturing; ensuring food security, sustainable rural and agricultural development; implementing social security policies, maintaining socio-political stability, taking initiatives and positive in international integration.

Mr. Axel Neubert - Representative of Hanns Seidel Foundation (Germany) made the opening speech at the conference

Before starting the first session, Mr. Axel Neubert - Representative of Hanns Seidel Foundation (Germany) had a speech sharing the view of HSF about the meaning and importance of the conference in contributing to assessing and improving the investment environment in Vietnam. He affirmed that moving towards sustainable development in the future is an inevitable trend of the world, especially for the developing countries.
The conference was divided into two main sessions: the first one focused on “Overview of investment environment and sustainable economic development” and the second one discussed about “The aspects of investment environment to toward sustainable development”.

In the first session, Prof.Dr. Nguyen Mai - Chairman of Vietnam's Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises, representative of National Committee for International Economic Cooperation Office - Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam gave overall assessment of the Vietnam’s investment environment in post-WTO period, in which he emphasized political stability and social security are the advantages of Vietnam’s investment environment; the stability, openness and transparency of the legal system still fail to meet the requirements of investors especially large transnational companies (TNCs).
Prof. Claudio Dordi - Team leader of EU-MUTRAP project had a presentation about sustainable investment: the international legal and economic context, from which providing opportunities and challenges for Vietnam. He said that the financial - economic crisis in recent years has promoted the role of government in the economy and enhanced the important role of international cooperation.

Many presentations of local and international experts at the conference

Discussing the two presentations, Dr. Le Viet Thai - Leader of Research Department on Economic Institutions, Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) supported the approach of state role and the administrative apparatus in promoting international investment environment in general and Vietnam investment environment in particular. However, CIEM’s researches showed that reforming the administrative apparatus still has many difficulties in the process of synthesizing information from all levels.

At this session, the conference was continued with presentations of “Global competitiveness and ability to attract foreign direct investment from ASEAN countries” which presented by Dr. Nguyen Anh Thu (VNU-UEB); “A review of the business environment of Vietnam through International surveys & ranking reports” of Dr. Nguyen Quoc Viet (VNU-UEB) and MA. Nguyen Minh Thao (CIEM).

Continuously focusing on ASEAN countries, presentation of Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thien (VNU-UEB) analyzed the overall numbers and experience of typical countries as Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and pointed out that the investment environment not only brings a direct impact to attract FDI in ASEAN countries, but also has direct and long-term affect on sustainable development in these countries. Presentation of the MA. Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong (VNU-UEB) offered recommendations to improve the investment environment and enhance state management capacity for the FDI in the path way to sustainable development through innovative thinking in attracting FDI and clearly identifying priority sectors to attract FDI.

During the Q&A session, participants gave more comments on the presentations as well as issues related to improve the general investment environment in Vietnam.

To end of the morning session, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Hong Son summarized the speeches and stressed that improving the investment environment was urgent, especially in the need of concentrating on improving quality rather than quantity. Simultaneously, he also gave some issues that need further research..

The aspects of investment environment to toward sustainable development

This was the main content of presentations at the second session of the conference. MA. Ruth Schaldach (Hamburg University of Technology - Germany) assessed the status of sustainable water resources management in Vietnam and stated that social and environment articles on free trade agreements and WTO negotiations were useful tools for the commercial orientation, standards performance, and therefore they might be used as a filter for possible high qualified investment projects .

At the second session of the conference

Analyzing the impact of investment environment on attracting FDI flow: an approach from FDI sectors and level of national development was the content of presentation of Dr. Hoang Khac Lich and Dr. Nguyen Quoc Viet (VNU-UEB). Group of authors Nguyen Viet Thanh and Bui Duy analyzed the efficiency of offshore fisheries in the South Eastern Sea (Vietnam).

Also analyzing the investment efficiency, group of authors from the Ministry of Planning and Investment started from public investment and considered its impact to economic growth with multi-dimensional approach through ICOR , VECM models and method of production function index (MP). Presentation of MA. Nguyen Thi Vu Ha (VNU-UEB) analyzed regulating the movement of foreign capital inflows aimed at macroeconomic stability of Vietnam and suggested the selection of regulatory instruments and appropriate supervision.

MSc. Vu Thanh Huong in the final presentation of the conference looked for answers of the question "Has the trade of Vietnam in the process of international economic integration been sustainable?". Referring to sustainable trading, this was an interesting research which used approach "clean industries, dirty industries" in Vietnam to analyze the structural changes in the import and export of Vietnam. The issue that scholars excitingly debated at the end of conference was that the division of cleaning and dirty industry according to international dividision was consistent with Vietnam case and criteria for classification of industries should be based on of actual survey.

Delegates exchange on the presented issues

To finish the conference, Dr. Nguyen Quoc Viet – Associate Dean of Faculty of Development Economic, VNU-UEB, on behalf of organizer, summarized the comments and discussions of the second session and the whole conference also. The conference indicate the results obtaining through 12 presentations and exchange sessions. At the same time, he also deeply thanked the sponsors, researchers, consultants, lecturers and students who enthusiastically participated and have significant contribution to the success of the program. He expressed his wish to continue to receive support and active cooperation of researchers on this topic.

The organizer, delegates and guests took photographs

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Thu Huyen - Nha Dam