Driving forces for improving the business environment in 2026

With the goal of achieving double-digit economic growth in 2026 and beyond, each locality as well as the entire country must make every effort. In particular, the task of continuing to improve the business environment and enhance competitiveness is especially important, creating confidence for the business community to develop.

Workers producing goods at a business in Long Thanh commune. Photo: Vuong The

Reducing unnecessary paperwork and procedures, saving time for citizens and businesses; accompanying, supporting, and resolving difficulties are issues that the business community hopes to see implemented more effectively and practically.

Determination from the State

Improving the business environment and enhancing competitiveness is a continuous task, most clearly addressed in the early days of 2026. On January 8th, the Government issued Resolution 02 on key solutions and tasks to improve the business environment and enhance national competitiveness in 2026. This is the 11th version of a thematic resolution on the business environment since Resolution 19 was initiated in 2014 (excluding 2023).

Resolution 02/NQ-CP is expected to create room for unlocking resources. The resolution sets the goal for Vietnam to strive to be among the top 50 countries in the Sustainable Development Goals Index (SDG); to increase by at least 3 ranks in the Property Rights Index (IPRI); to increase by at least 1 rank in the Global Innovation Index (GII); and to increase by at least 4 ranks in the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) and the Tourism Development Capacity Index (TTDI). In addition, it aims to improve indicators reflecting the perceptions of citizens and businesses regarding the performance of government at all levels related to the domestic investment and business environment... This is in the context of the Vietnamese economy facing the need to shift from recovery to breakthrough, with specific goals and solutions.

For Dong Nai province , Resolution No. 44/NQ-HĐND, dated December 10, 2025, on the socio-economic development and national defense and security plan for 2026, sets a target of 10% GRDP growth at constant prices. The proposed solutions include continuing to improve the investment and business environment, encouraging innovation, and attracting all resources for development. The focus will be on reviewing and reducing administrative procedures, shifting from "pre-approval" to "post-approval," and reducing compliance costs for citizens and businesses.

The Provincial People's Committee has also issued the Dong Nai Provincial Administrative Reform Plan 2026. The goal is to ensure that 100% of administrative procedures under its jurisdiction are reviewed, submitted for publication, and publicly updated on the National Database. The province aims to reduce and simplify at least 10% of existing administrative procedures; and simultaneously reduce the amount of information required by declaration by at least 20% through the reuse of digitized data. Regarding investment and business conditions, unnecessary, contradictory, or non-conditional business regulations not included in the Investment Law will be completely abolished.

According to Nguyen Kim Long, Standing Committee Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, supporting businesses is the responsibility of the locality. The province continues to improve the investment environment to attract investment. Suggestions, obstacles, and difficulties faced by businesses must be regularly updated and addressed promptly by relevant departments and units when they are reported.

Expectations from businesses

The private sector plays a crucial role in the country's development and is considered the main, overarching driving force behind economic strength. Over the past period, many policies of the Party and State have been issued to encourage and promote the development of the business community, especially Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW. Dong Nai has also implemented a series of solutions to implement Resolution 68. These include breakthroughs in creating equitable access to land, capital, and labor; supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in improving human resources and digital transformation; expanding markets, developing value chains, strengthening dialogue, and improving the investment environment.

According to the plan, the Provincial People's Committee is expected to hold a meeting with foreign-invested enterprises in 2026 on February 5th. This will be an opportunity for exchange between representatives of the provincial leadership, departments and agencies, and foreign-invested enterprises to promptly listen to, exchange, share, and resolve difficulties and obstacles; and to introduce the orientation for attracting FDI investment in the province. The conference will also award Investment Registration Certificates to a number of new, expanded, and exemplary FDI projects and commend enterprises with outstanding achievements in production and business activities in 2024-2025.

According to Dang Van Diem, Chairman of the Dong Nai Business Federation, while the business environment has improved in recent years, there are still "bottlenecks" that prevent businesses from confidently expanding their investments. With recently issued policies on private sector development and the government's and local authorities' determination to improve the business environment, the business community hopes that this determination will spread strongly in practice. This will help unlock resources and create the most favorable conditions for businesses to access capital, land, and production and business premises to thrive.

From the perspective of foreign-invested enterprises, the local authorities' efforts in improving the business environment and providing support have been acknowledged. Mr. Takahisa Onose, Vice President and Head of the Tax and Customs Committee of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Ho Chi Minh City (JCCH), noted that issues in areas such as taxes and customs that member businesses operating in Dong Nai are facing have been promptly addressed by the relevant agencies. The association always encourages Japanese businesses to invest in Vietnam, including Dong Nai. According to Mr. Takahisa Onose, before investing in the province, businesses will certainly consult with existing businesses in the province. Therefore, the local authorities' efforts in improving the business environment and supporting businesses are a major catalyst for larger corporations to invest.

King

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/kinh-te/202601/dong-luc-cai-thien-moi-truongkinh-doanh-2026-f770483/