Experts doubt MOIT’s new rules will free up businesses

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) decision on removing 675 business conditions and licenses has been described as a ‘historic decision’. However, experts think it doesn’t have much significance.

MOIT, which is drafting a decree on amending Decree 19 on gas trading, has decided, for example, to remove the requirements which many traders have complained about. Gas distributors will not have to own gas tanks, gas supply stations and other kinds of facilities. 

MOIT is also considering removing business conditions related to the operation of goods exchanges and franchise. The requirements which deeply intervene in business operations related to tobacco and petrol products will also be removed.

However, Lawyer Truong Thanh Duc, president of Basico Law Firm, said there are issues that need to be clarified.

Of the 675 business conditions MOIT promised to cut, 215 are about food trading.  There are 350 business conditions in the field, mostly stipulated in Decree 77. Duc noted that to remove 215 conditions, MOIT has combined some conditions.

In the Article 26 stipulating conditions for production workshops, for example, MOIT merges three stipulations to create one condition. 

Similarly, the condition related to the tools and equipment for food production comprises five sub-conditions and MOIT plans to merge three sub-conditions. This means that the five sub-conditions will still exist, though only two sub-conditions are shown on paper. 

Duc pointed out that many conditions would be removed this way. 

The conditions on vegetable oil, beer and dairy have the sharpest cuts. However, in fact, most of the conditions are stipulated in the ‘general conditions to ensure food safety for food production facilities’. This means that businesses will still have to satisfy the requirements.

Also according to Duc, in many cases, the removal has no significance, because MOIT cut conditions which businesses automatically have to satisfy and there is no need to stipulate these in laws.

For instance, businesses have to ‘have a valid website and domain name, and comply with regulations on the management of information on the Internet’.

“Businesses have a domain name even though they are not asked to do that, because they can't operate without it,” Duc explained.

Nguyen Quang Dong, an expert on public policy, said he has also found problems related to business conditions MOIT decided to cut.

“The cutting needs to have real significance. The business conditions that place difficulties for businesses must be cut,” Dong said.

MOIT plans to remove some requirements on rice businesses, but the two major problems related to storehouses and compulsory reserves still exist.

Vietnamnet Bridge

Other News

SBV raises short-term capital lending cap to 40%

SBV raises short-term capital lending cap to 40%

The new circular will help credit institutions have more room to provide capital to businesses and investment projects to support high economic growth in the next few years, while increasing flexibility in the SBV’s monetary policy management.

Business confidence in Vietnam rebounds strongly: UOB

Business confidence in Vietnam rebounds strongly: UOB

The study found that 85% of Vietnamese enterprises reported positive business sentiment, a sharp increase from 48% in 2025, when business confidence was weighed down by uncertainties surrounding US tariff policies and related trade developments.

Bac Ninh seeks high-quality foreign investment for sustainable growth

Bac Ninh seeks high-quality foreign investment for sustainable growth

According to Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Pham Van Thinh, the province aims to maintain stable and sustainable growth, improve the competitiveness of both the economy and local businesses, and make better use of free trade agreements (FTAs) to expand and diversify export markets.

Green building trend flourishes in Ho Chi Minh City's real estate landscape

Green building trend flourishes in Ho Chi Minh City's real estate landscape

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) highlighted the city's dominance in green-certified building floor space in Vietnam, reflecting the rapid expansion of the green building market with 780 completed green buildings encompassing over 18.69 million sq.m by 2025, predominantly certified by EDGE and LEED.

UK supports Vietnam in wind power and green finance development

UK supports Vietnam in wind power and green finance development

The United Kingdom officially announced two new climate cooperation initiatives to support Vietnam in its energy transition and green growth journey. These programs focus on offshore wind power development and the creation of a sustainable green financial ecosystem.

Ample room remains for Vietnam–India logistics cooperation

Ample room remains for Vietnam–India logistics cooperation

The GTTCI expert noted that alongside logistics and integrated warehousing, e-commerce is expected to be a particularly high-growth sector in the coming years. He described it as a multi-billion-dollar market with significant untapped opportunities for cooperation between Vietnam and India.

Exports gain momentum from high-tech growth drivers

Exports gain momentum from high-tech growth drivers

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam’s exports reached 215.66 billion USD in the first five months of 2026, up 19.5% year-on-year. Twenty-six export items generated more than 1 billion USD in revenue each, including seven with turnover exceeding 10 billion USD.

Vietnam–China crossings see spike in ASEAN fresh produce

Vietnam–China crossings see spike in ASEAN fresh produce

Since the start of the summer harvest season, China's two major border gates with Vietnam, Youyi Guan in Pingxiang and Beilun 2 Bridge in Dongxing, have entered their peak period for handling imports of fresh agricultural and seafood products from member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Cargo handling operations at Berths 3 and 4 of the Hai Phong International Gateway Port. (Photo: VNA)

AI reshapes logistics, raising bar for workforce skills

According to the Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA), the logistics sector will require around 2.2 million workers by 2030, including 1.6 million employees for logistics service providers and nearly 600,000 personnel supporting logistics operations in manufacturing and trading enterprises.

Robust dispute resolution framework key to Vietnam's IFC ambitions

Robust dispute resolution framework key to Vietnam's IFC ambitions

The development strategy for VIFC-HCMC envisions a comprehensive financial ecosystem encompassing green finance, carbon credits, financial technology (fintech), blockchain technology, digital assets, digital banking and other innovative business models. These highly internationalised sectors involve complex cross-border transactions and sophisticated legal structures.