Vietnam targets 100% online processing of business-related procedures

THE HANOI TIMES — The Vietnamese Government has set a goal of bringing 100% of business-related administrative procedures online this year, according to a newly approved government program to streamline regulations and reduce paperwork.

Ministries and local authorities are required to eliminate at least 30% of unnecessary business conditions and shorten processing times by at least 30% this year to cut compliance costs for businesses by the same percentage.

To implement the plan, agencies will compile and review all business-related procedures and simplify them through the use of technology, data linkage, and administrative restructuring. Certain licensing and regulatory functions will be delegated to businesses and social organizations.

Internal administrative procedures within and between government agencies will also be streamlined to increase efficiency.

By 2026, corporate compliance costs must be cut in half compared to 2024, achieved through a 50% reduction in processing times. By that time, 100% of business-related technical standards and mandatory regulations will be simplified, and all corporate reporting requirements will be handled electronically.

The broader reform program aims to modernize administrative procedures, improve the one-stop-shop mechanism, and eliminate geographical restrictions on the processing of procedures. The initiative is expected to enhance the business environment, drive innovation, and strengthen national competitiveness.

Between 2021 and February 2025, ministries and agencies have trimmed or simplified 3,199 out of 15,763 business regulations, achieving a reduction rate of over 20%. The digitization rate of administrative records reached over 43% at the ministerial level and 64% at the local level, while nearly 70% of administrative procedures are now available on the National Public Service Portal.