Hanoi (VNA) – The 8th patrioticemulation congress of the banking sector, for 2020-2025, took place in Hanoi onNovember 28 with the participation of National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman NguyenThi Kim Ngan.

Opening the event, Governor of the State Bank ofVietnam (SBV) Nguyen Thi Hong said between 2015 and 2020, the entire staff ofthe banking sector have brought into play the traditional solidarity and madeefforts to fulfill tasks assigned by the Party and State.

The sector has actively engaged in emulationmovements launched by the Prime Minister, especially the one on buildingnew-style rural areas, she noted, elaborating that since 2011, 51 of its unitshave registered to support new-style countryside building in 152 communes of 34districts in 45 provinces. Outstanding loans for communes nationwide hadreached 1.2 quadrillion VND (52 billion USD) as of March 31 this year.

Besides, banking institutions have also beensupporting the growth of Vietnamese enterprises by boosting administrativeprocedures, applying more information technology, and creating a favourable andfair environment for companies to access resources and business chances,according to Hong.

Addressing the congress, Chairwoman Ngan saiddespite numerous difficulties and challenges in recent years, under the Party’sclear-sighted and timely leadership, the NA’s support and supervision, and theGovernment’s drastic direction, the banking sector has shown proactive andflexible performance in steering the monetary and credit policies, as well asbanking activities so as to achieve the consistent targets of keepingmacro-economic stability, controlling inflation, tackling obstacles toproduction and business activities, and promoting economic growth.

The sector’s contributions have helped Vietnamobtain many positive economic outcomes, including an average annual GDP growthrate of 6.78 percent during 2016-2019, inflation kept at below 4 percent, andfruitful poverty reduction and social security programmes. Notably, amid theCOVID-19 pandemic’s serious impact in 2020, GDP growth is still forecast to top2 percent, showing the country’s big success in concurrently combating thepandemic and developing the economy, she noted.

The top legislator spoke highly of the sector’sreform and creativity in emulation and rewarding activities in recent years,especially the effective implementation of its emulation movements and thoselaunched by the Government.

She asked the banking sector to continuestudying and creatively applying late President Ho Chi Minh’s thinking onpatriotic emulation, adding that it should regularly reform emulation campaignswhich need to be associated with its targets and tasks.

The sector also needs to improve the quality ofrewarding activities to ensure that reward is offered in an objective, precise,fair, and timely manner, the Chairwoman said.

In recognition of the banking sector’sachievements, Chairwoman Ngan presented the first-class Labour Order to the SBVbranches in Ho Chi Minh City and Ben Tre province, Deputy Governors of the SBVDao Minh Tu and Nguyen Kim Anh, and General Director of the Vietnam Bank forSocial Policies Duong Quyet Thang.

The second- and third-class Labour Order wasalso presented to some individuals with outstanding performance over the pastyears./.