"We are working hard to create a transparent and fair business environment"
About this Quote
"Transparent and fair" is the kind of phrase that sounds like a promise and functions like a pressure valve. Coming from Nguyen Xuan Phuc, a Vietnamese politician formed inside a one-party system that prizes stability and managed change, the line is less a moral manifesto than a calibrated signal to multiple audiences at once: investors, domestic entrepreneurs, and the state bureaucracy itself.
The intent is straightforward: reassure capital. Vietnam’s growth story depends on foreign direct investment, export manufacturing, and the credibility of its regulatory regime. Saying the environment will be transparent and fair is a way of reducing perceived risk without conceding political liberalization. In other words, it markets predictability, not pluralism.
The subtext sits in the verb: "working hard". It implies the destination is not yet reached, which subtly admits existing friction - opaque approvals, uneven enforcement, informal payments, favoritism toward connected firms. It also frames reform as technocratic labor rather than political conflict. Corruption and arbitrary decision-making aren’t named; they’re rebranded as solvable implementation challenges.
Context matters: Vietnamese leaders often speak in the language of governance modernization when courting international partners or responding to public frustration about graft. The phrase aligns with global development speak (good governance, rule-based management) while keeping the party’s legitimacy narrative intact: problems exist, the system can fix itself, and change will be administered from the top. It’s a promise designed to travel well abroad and land safely at home.
The intent is straightforward: reassure capital. Vietnam’s growth story depends on foreign direct investment, export manufacturing, and the credibility of its regulatory regime. Saying the environment will be transparent and fair is a way of reducing perceived risk without conceding political liberalization. In other words, it markets predictability, not pluralism.
The subtext sits in the verb: "working hard". It implies the destination is not yet reached, which subtly admits existing friction - opaque approvals, uneven enforcement, informal payments, favoritism toward connected firms. It also frames reform as technocratic labor rather than political conflict. Corruption and arbitrary decision-making aren’t named; they’re rebranded as solvable implementation challenges.
Context matters: Vietnamese leaders often speak in the language of governance modernization when courting international partners or responding to public frustration about graft. The phrase aligns with global development speak (good governance, rule-based management) while keeping the party’s legitimacy narrative intact: problems exist, the system can fix itself, and change will be administered from the top. It’s a promise designed to travel well abroad and land safely at home.
Quote Details
| Topic | Business |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
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