Hanoi (VNA) - The Government Inspectorate of Vietnamtogether with the UN Development Fund (UNDP) organised a scientific seminar inHanoi on December 9 to assess corruption risks in the country’s road transportsector.

Held as part of the UNDP’s project on promoting a fair businessenvironment in ASEAN and sponsored by the UK Prosperity Fund, the seminar reviewedthe current situation and anti-corruption regulations, while collecting feedbackon draft research on corruption in road transport.

Opening the seminar, Tran Van Truong, Deputy Chief Inspector at theMinistry of Transport, said the Government has directed the implementation ofseveral measures to improve the country’s business climate, particularly inroad transport, creating positive change.

The disbursement of investment in transport projects, however, is low,partly due to corruption, which raises costs, restricts investmentopportunities, and increases social inequality, he added.  

Transport is a key sector in Vietnam’s economic development and of importanceto domestic and foreign investors, the official said, noting that it also facesa high risk of corruption.

Diana Torres, UNDP Assistant Resident Representative in Vietnam, spoke aboutits technical assistance for the building of Vietnam’s revised Anti-CorruptionLaw, which took effect on July 1 last year.

She said that to promote an initiative on integrity between businessesand the Government in the country, the UNDP has joined the Inspectorate and theVietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) to carry out a host of activities,including seminars and forums that enabled firms to make recommendations toamend the law for better administrative procedures.

Introducing research on assessing corruption risks in Vietnam’s roadtransport sector, UNDP expert Nguyen Viet Hoang attributed the risks to thesector’s complexities, overlapping regulations, and lack of transparency andpublicity in administrative procedures, among other reasons.

He recommended that the Vietnamese Government and the Transport Ministrycontinue completing the legal framework on road traffic, improve Statemanagement of the sector, and overhaul related procedures for licencing,inspection, and sanctions for violations.

Efforts to improve the capacity of public managers and law abidance inthe field by citizens and businesses are also necessary, he added./.