Hanoi (VNA) –Many French and Italian businesses have expressed their high appreciation of theVietnamese Government’s measures to help firms surmount pandemic-causeddifficulties.

The latest survey of 63French companies conducted by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry inVietnam (CCIFV) shows that some additional measures issued by the VietnameseGovernment, such as reducing social security contributions and waiving the penaltiesfor late payment, are necessary for businesses to sustain operations, reported the Dau tu (Investment) newspaper.

However, longer-termsolutions are still needed when it comes to added value tax and corporateincome tax, respondents said in the poll.

CCIFV Director AdamKoulaksezian told the Dau tu (Vietnam Investment Review) newspaper that theywelcome the Vietnamese Government’s issuance of some support measures forenterprises amid the pandemic.

A small French businessoperating in Vietnam’s food industry for 10 years voiced its hope to accessloans with lower interest rates and a one-year grace period. Some others are expectingtax exemption and assistance in salary and house rent payment.

Michele D’Ercole, Chairman ofthe Italian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, said applying the “three on-site”model, which involves eating, sleeping, and working without leaving, is a bigchallenge to companies and manufacturers, but Italian businesses are exertingall-out efforts as customers around the world are waiting for their products.

He noted that businesses welcomeany support measures taken by the Vietnamese Government such as exempting taxesand cutting interest rates, energy costs, or rent expenses.

Italian companies havealready accessed the support measures rolled out by the Government in 2020, andthey will continue making use of this advantage to cope with the pandemic’simpact this year, D’Ercole went on.

Ho Chi Minh City andneighbouring provinces like Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Long An are still facingthe COVID-19 complexity, he added, pointing out that the most important thingnow is to quickly vaccinate workers in these localities so that factories canresume operations as soon as possible.

After the Vietnamese Governmentapproved Resolution No 68/NQ-CP that features a relief package worth 26trillion VND (1.14 billion USD), a new aid package of about 24 trillion VND interms of taxes and fees is currently under consideration.

Prime Minister Pham MinhChinh recently signed off Resolution No 105/NQ-CP on support for enterprises, cooperatives,and business households amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Accordingly, the pandemic-hitgroups will benefit from exemption and reduction of taxes, fees, and land rent;reduction of electricity, water, and telecoms charges; along with other policiesassisting workers and employers./.