Vietnam is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA). However, the country has been an observer of the WTO GPA since 2012.

It is reported that restrictions on foreign direct investment are applicable to cryptocurrency trading. When cryptocurrencies are traded as securities, such activity is considered regulated and requires a licence under the Capital Markets and Services Act, with a maximum of 70% foreign equity ownership permitted.

Art. 17 of the Law on Telecommunications regulates that the State holds the controlling shares in telecommunication companies considered particularly important to the operation of the entire national telecommunications infrastructure. Therefore, there are limits to foreign ownership in these companies. According to Art. 1 of Decision No. 55/2011/QD-TTg, these include the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), the Viettel Group (VIETTEL), Global Telecommunications Corporation (GTEL), and Indochina Telecom Joint Stock Company (INDOCHINA TELECOM).

Under Decree No. 121/2008/ND-CP, equity caps applicable to foreign investment are based on WTO commitments. That is, for fixed and mobile communications, as well as Internet services, the maximum foreign equity shares are set at 49% in facilities-based services (i.e. telecom sector with infrastructure facilities). The threshold may increase up to 65% for non-facilities-based services (i.e. telephony services with no network infrastructure) and 70% for VPN services after a three-year investing period in Vietnam.

Art. 11 of Decree No. 25/2011/ND-CP regulates the cross-border supply of telecommunications services to the Vietnamese market. The provision of telecommunications services across the border to users of telecommunications services in Vietnam must be through a commercial agreement with a Vietnamese telecommunications enterprise that has been licensed to provide international telecommunication services.

Art. 24 of the Law on Investment specifies that foreign investment in economic organisations must be conditional upon ensuring national defence and security in compliance with this Law. It is reported that the government periodically intervenes to prevent foreign investment when it is deemed to pose a threat to Vietnam’s national security.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) plays a key role in investment screening. All foreign direct investment (FDI) projects require approval from the People’s Committee in the province where the project will be located. Additionally, large-scale FDI projects must secure approval from the National Assembly before proceeding. MPI’s approval process involves a comprehensive assessment of the investor’s legal status and financial strength, the project’s alignment with the government’s long- and short-term economic development and revenue goals, the investor’s technological expertise, environmental protection measures, and, if applicable, plans for land use and land clearance compensation.

Art. 31 of the Law on Investment stipulates that the Prime Minister shall grant approval for projects initiated by foreign investors in the provision of telecommunication services involving network infrastructure. The approval entails the endorsement by a competent state authority of the objectives, location, scope, implementation timeline and duration of the investment project, the investor or method of investor selection, and any special mechanisms or policies (if applicable) for the project's implementation.

Vietnam is a signatory of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) of 1996 but is not a signatory of its 2015 expansion (ITA II).

Burkina Faso has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures.

Burkina Faso has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.

According to Art. 130 of Law No. 061-2008/AN, no radio equipment used for the transmission, reception or transmission and reception of signals and correspondence may be imported for use in Burkina Faso unless it has been approved by the Regulatory Authority. To this end, the Authority may carry out any verification to ensure that the equipment complies with the regulations in force.

Telecom companies need to submit their equipment for testing to the regulator or its delegated entity. Under Art. 130 of Law No. 061-2008/AN, no radio equipment used for the transmission, reception or transmission and reception of signals and correspondence may be manufactured, imported or marketed for use in Burkina Faso unless it has been approved by the Regulatory Authority. To this end, the Authority may carry out any verification to ensure that the equipment complies with the regulations in force. Equipment includes hardware and software used to provide electronic communications services.

According to Art. 5 of Decree No. 2018-1199, e-retailers must get a professional trader card. To obtain it, they must register in the trade register and have a unique financial identification number (IFU), in addition to providing a copy of an ID card, an application form, a copy of company status, two tax stamps, and a certificate of tax status.

Burkina Faso does not implement any de minimis threshold, which is the minimum value of goods below which customs do not charge duties. However, it is reported that there is an informal threshold of USD 100.