Hanoi (VNA) – A workshop was heldin Hanoi on November 13 to discuss the enhancement of businesses’ engagementthrough promoting their integrity pledge, which is said to be useful to createa fair and transparent business climate in Vietnam.

At this event, certificates were presented to 11business associations to recognise their commitments to helping build a cultureof integrity in business practices in Vietnam.

They include six Hanoi-based associations,namely the Vietnam Textile & Apparel Association; the Vietnam Associationof Consumer Goods Development; the Hanoi Association of Small and MediumEnterprises; the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association; the HanoiBusiness Association; and the Vietnam Pharmaceutical Companies Association.

The six others are organisations of Ho Chi MinhCity, namely the business association; the rubber – plastic manufacturersassociation; the food and foodstuff association; the textile, garment,embroidery and knitting association; and the plastics association.

Addressing the workshop, Chairman of the VietnamChamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Vu Tien Loc said professionalism,ethical practices and integrity form indispensable parts of businessactivities.

He expressed his hope that following thisworkshop, business associations will strongly promote business integrity in theenterprises and sectors they represent, and together take actions to minimiseand prevent risks relevant to bribery and corruption in business transactions.

Caitlin Wiesen, Resident Representative of theUN Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam, spoke highly of the country’sapproval of the Anti-Corruption Law in 2018.

She said it takes time to make changes, so clearobjectives for each period is necessary to monitor the implementation of commitmentsso as to ensure that commitments are not only promises but also an effectivetool to promote a fair and transparent business climate in Vietnam.

Applauding the associations’ commitments,Stephen Taylor, Second Secretary at the British Embassy in Vietnam,congratulated them on having been taking the lead in consolidating thecountry’s future success through improving the business environment. He hopedthat more enterprises will follow their example.

The workshop was attended by more than 70representatives of government agencies, companies, business associations, andsocial organisations. It was part of the Government – Business Integrity Initiativeimplemented by VCCI within the framework of an UNDP project named “Promoting aFair Business Environment in ASEAN”./.