A conference seeking measures and policies in support of small and medium-sized enterprises following COVID-19 pandemic was held in the northern province of Thai Binh on December 24.
Vice Chairman of the Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform Nguyen Van Than speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)
Thai Binh (VNA) – A conference seeking measures and policies in support of small and medium-sized enterprises following COVID-19 pandemic was held in the northern province of Thai Binh on December 24.
The event was co-hosted by the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, the Government’s Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and the provincial Association of Small and Medium Enterprises.
Data from the General Department of Statistics showed that in ten months of this year, over 97,000 firms suspended operations and withdrew from the market. The World Bank said over 1.4 million workers nationwide became unemployed and 1.3 million were forced to return home due to unemployment.
Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the council Nguyen Van Than said following the zero COVID-19 approach switched to safely and flexibly adapting to and effectively controlling the pandemic, nearly 12,000 new enterprises were established in November with a total registered capital of 150 trillion VND (6.52 billion USD) and 76,600 workers. Economic growth in the fourth quarter is forecast to rebound quarter-on-quarter to 7 percent, thus bringing yearly growth to some 3 percent.
Opinions at the event suggested giving priority to financial assistance and administrative reform for enterprises, including land and tax incentives, and lowered lending rates.
Chairman of the provincial Business Association Do Van Ve proposed departments and agencies work closely together to deal with barriers to production and export-import.
He suggested local authorities establish a working group in support of businesses, step up the enforcement of the Law on Support for SMEs, extend deadline for payment of loans and restructure loans by firms hit by the pandemic such as those working in export, tourism, transportation and apparel.
Ve also asked the province to reform administrative procedures regarding land, environment, taxation policy and accelerate digital transformation in new period./.
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Vice Chairman of the Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform Nguyen Van Than speaks at the event (Photo: VNA) 
