Announcing the set of indicators to assess the implementation results of free trade agreements in 2024

Delegates attending the conference at Ha Nam bridge point.

Attending the conference at Ha Nam bridge were comrade Nguyen Duc Vuong, member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; leaders of the Provincial People's Committee Office; and functional departments and branches of the province.

Promoting international and regional economic integration, including participation in free trade agreements (FTAs), has become a consistent policy of Vietnam in recent times. To date, Vietnam has negotiated, signed and implemented 17 FTAs ​​with more than 60 partners across the continents, making an important contribution to the development of Vietnam's economy. The FTA Index is a quantitative and systematic tool, built on a survey of enterprises in 63 provinces and cities across the country. The survey focuses on the following main aspects: The level of access to information about FTAs ​​by enterprises; compliance with domestic legal regulations from FTA commitments; effectiveness of programs and policies to support enterprises in taking advantage of FTAs; implementation of sustainable development commitments at the local level; and at the same time, recording the difficulties and obstacles that enterprises are facing.

According to the results of the FTA Index 2024, the province with the highest overall score is Ca Mau with a score of 34.9/40 points; the province with the lowest score is Quang Tri, reaching 14.49/40 points. The average value of the overall score is 26.2 points. The survey results show that Vietnamese enterprises' access to information about FTAs ​​has had certain successes when the vast majority of enterprises have heard of one or several FTAs. Enterprises have been aware of the focal agencies at both the central and local levels in providing information about FTAs ​​(mainly the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Department of Industry and Trade of localities). The forms of providing FTA information in localities are quite diverse, accessible to enterprises, from events, conferences, seminars, training to documents, portals, and electronic information pages. Basically, businesses’ access to legal documents implementing FTAs ​​is guaranteed, including special preferential tariffs under FTAs ​​and rules of origin. Businesses have begun to take advantage of incentives at different levels depending on the industry, locality and each agreement; are aware of commitments on sustainable development, especially commitments on labor and environment, and have made certain preparations for implementing the commitments.

In addition to the results achieved, the survey results also clearly reflect that, in reality, the implementation and utilization of FTAs ​​are still uneven among localities and enterprises. The coordination between central agencies, local authorities and the business community in implementing FTAs ​​is not really synchronous and effective, reducing the spillover effects of the agreements.

Based on the results and limitations in implementing FTAs ​​in Vietnam, the FTA Index aims to provide a transparent and objective database for the Government, central and local agencies in directing, supervising and operating integration work; supporting localities in assessing the results of FTA implementation according to the proposed action program; at the same time, it is the basis for planning policies and development strategies suitable to the conditions and potentials of each locality. The Index also contributes to raising awareness and promoting the proactive participation of the business community in taking advantage of opportunities from FTAs; improving the quality of implementation of business support programs as well as testing tools to measure the effectiveness of international economic integration in a more scientific and practical way.

On this occasion, provinces and cities with achievements and good and fair results in evaluating the implementation results of free trade agreements in 2024 were commended and rewarded.

Speaking at the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh acknowledged and commended the efforts of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, relevant ministries, branches and localities in developing the FTA Index. The Prime Minister affirmed: The effective implementation of FTAs ​​in recent times has helped expand and diversify markets, supply chains and export products, creating conditions for Vietnamese goods to participate more deeply in the global production and supply chain; promoting strong growth in import and export turnover, making an important and positive contribution to the country's economic development. Therefore, the conference to announce the FTA Index not only marks an important step forward in the country's international economic integration but also creates a solid foundation to improve the effectiveness of implementing FTA agreements; at the same time, better support businesses and localities in the process of participating in international trade and regional and global value chains.

To further improve the effectiveness of implementing FTAs, the Prime Minister requested ministries, branches and localities to proactively and regularly provide information on FTAs ​​to the business community; establish and operate periodic business dialogue mechanisms by industry or market to quickly grasp information and have timely policy solutions in the process of developing and implementing legal documents implementing FTAs; effectively develop and implement programs to support businesses in taking advantage of opportunities from FTAs. On the part of businesses, it is necessary to proactively seek information on FTAs, actively learn and grasp information on market requirements, and improve product quality to meet the requirements of export markets. Business associations need to closely coordinate with central and local state management agencies to effectively implement programs to support businesses in taking advantage of opportunities from FTAs, from supporting businesses in accessing information to guiding businesses in implementing related administrative procedures; regularly grasp and summarize the problems that businesses propose, promptly reflect to relevant state agencies to quickly and promptly resolve problems and difficulties for businesses...

Nguyen Oanh

Source: https://baohanam.com.vn/kinh-te/cong-bo-bo-chi-so-danh-gia-ket-qua-thuc-hien-cac-hiep-dinh-thuong-mai-tu-do-nam-2024-155978.html