Accompanying businesses to resolve obstacles and drive growth

Trust built through service quality

For businesses, the quality of government services is reflected in every procedure and every issue addressed. Clear guidance and timely handling help enterprises save time and costs and proactively plan their production and business activities. Therefore, improving the business environment needs to begin with regular work at the grassroots level.

In Thien Huong Ward, the local authorities hold dialogues with enterprises, cooperatives and household businesses to understand their difficulties, while focusing on handling procedures, providing legal support and guiding household businesses in transitioning to the enterprise model.

In the first eight months of 2026, the ward issued 311 new business registration certificates and reissued 102. In August alone, the Public Administration Service Center received 876 applications, all of which were submitted online; the applications were processed on time or ahead of schedule. Timely handling has helped create favorable conditions for residents and businesses.

The authorities’ proactive efforts to listen, provide guidance and accompany businesses are also among the factors of concern to foreign investors operating in Hai Phong.

Seog Myeong Gug, Chairman of Hai Phong branch of the Korean Chamber of Business in Vietnam (KOCHAM), said Korean enterprises are investing approximately USD 15 billion in the city through more than 300 projects.

After nine years of living and working in Hai Phong, Seog Myeong Gug noted many positive changes in support policies and spoke highly of the city’s service-oriented approach toward foreign businesses. He noted that the Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority has played a coordinating role, identifying and gradually working with relevant agencies to resolve difficulties and inconveniences faced by enterprises.

Driving growth

For support to be effective, assistance needs to closely address obstacles arising during investment, production and business operations. Procedures related to land, construction, taxation, labor and other areas involve multiple agencies, requiring consistent guidance and timely coordination to enable businesses to proactively plan, minimize waiting times and reduce additional costs.

Addressing these shortcomings is even more necessary as the city’s foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction in the first eight months of this year is estimated at USD 3,473.49 million, 1.75 times the figure for the same period last year; FDI in industrial parks and economic zones alone hit USD 3,143.34 million, with both figures exceeding the respective scenarios. Improving coordination and ensuring the timely handling of procedures and petitions will help projects get underway sooner, while creating favorable conditions for active businesses to maintain and expand production.

Among the issues of concern to enterprises, particularly FDI ones, tax policies and procedures have a direct impact on cash flow, costs, profits and investment plans. Clear guidance and timely answers help enterprises proactively fulfill their obligations, minimize errors and feel more secure in their production and business activities.

According to Nguyen Tien Truong, Head of the Hai Phong Tax Office, tax administration must go hand in hand with support, while inspections must be combined with guidance to facilitate business operations and reduce compliance costs for enterprises. Hai Phong currently has more than 2,000 FDI enterprises and organizations in operation, contributing more than 20% of total domestic revenue. Supporting businesses in maintaining stable and effective operations is also a basis for fostering sustainable budget revenues.

Along with tax support, administrative procedure reform needs to be implemented in a coordinated manner to facilitate businesses throughout their operations. At the Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority, the processing time for 54 administrative procedures has been cut by at least 50%; a “green lane” mechanism has been introduced for FDI projects with investment of USD 20 million or more. On this basis, the authority continues to upgrade the e-Heza system, step up digitalization, enhance the responsibility of officials and civil servants in providing guidance and handling work, and monitor the results of solving petitions.

LE HIEP