Pace of reform slowed by bureaucracy (Viet Nam)

This blog has reported on progress made by the Vietnamese administrative simplification programme (Project 30). Since the beginning of the year, practical results have been placed on hold, pending the definition of new policy (July conference of the Party Central Committee). An article by VOV news quotes the minister in charge, Mr Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Minister of the Government Office: "Many state organizations and ministries are still dragging their feet in the reform process." The minister said that while the third phase of Project 30 had officially ended recently, many ministries and state agencies had not yet finished their required tasks. On paper the results are impressive: according to the Administrative Reform Inspection Department, up to June 30, more than 3,000 administrative procedures were proposed for simplification, which represents 63 percent of all procedures. Among those, nearly 2,000 have been approved and have brought direct benefits to enterprises and the public.