Prime Minister Chính Calls for National Mobilisation Against Smuggling, Trade Fraud, and Counterfeiting
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has urged every Vietnamese citizen to serve as a “soldier” in the national campaign against smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeiting, and violations of intellectual property rights, while promoting smart consumer practices.
The Prime Minister made the appeal during a nationwide virtual conference on Monday, convened to assess efforts undertaken in the first half of 2025 to combat these issues, including intensified enforcement activities carried out between May 15 and June 15.
Commending the proactive measures of ministries, sectors, and local authorities, Prime Minister Chính acknowledged that enforcement remains inconsistent in some areas, with overlapping jurisdiction and insufficient oversight, leading to complex and evolving challenges. He stressed the need to formulate a comprehensive Government action plan and called for continuous and coordinated efforts to suppress smuggling, counterfeiting, and intellectual property violations.
The Ministry of Health was specifically tasked with strengthening its oversight of pharmaceuticals and food safety, in response to growing concerns over counterfeit and unsafe products.
The Prime Minister voiced concern over the lack of responsibility and commitment among certain officials, noting that some have even compromised their integrity. He underscored that the full potential of community and business engagement has yet to be effectively mobilised in the fight against these illicit activities.
Reaffirming the Government’s strong stance, PM Chính said efforts must be steadfast, systematic, and sustained to eliminate smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeiting. This, he noted, is critical to safeguarding public health, national security, and the legitimate interests of law-abiding businesses, while contributing to the country’s rapid and sustainable development.
Calling for the mobilisation of the entire political system, he urged active participation from citizens and enterprises alike. He described the fight against these violations as a long-term and ongoing national mission that requires unwavering determination and broad-based cooperation.
Prime Minister Chính directed ministries, sectors, and local leaders to focus on reviewing and updating legal frameworks, conducting regular inspections, and enhancing the capacity and accountability of state management bodies. He emphasised the need for clear delineation of responsibilities, a robust enforcement apparatus, and adequate allocation of financial and technological resources to ensure product quality control.
He also called for the development of a professional, ethical, and citizen-centric public service workforce. In addition, he advocated for the creation of mechanisms and policies that encourage strong public and private sector collaboration in the fight against smuggling and trade violations.
According to official data presented during the conference, over the past six months, authorities handled 50,736 violations nationwide. These included 10,862 cases of trading and transporting prohibited or smuggled goods, 36,604 cases involving trade and tax fraud, and 3,270 cases related to counterfeit products and intellectual property infringements. These efforts resulted in the recovery of more than VNĐ6.53 trillion (over US$249 million) for the state budget and the prosecution of 1,875 criminal cases involving 3,235 individuals.
The Government affirmed its commitment to continuing and intensifying these efforts in the months ahead, in order to uphold the rule of law, ensure market integrity, and protect the rights and wellbeing of the Vietnamese people.
