HCM City (VNS/VNA) - It has been aremarkable transformation for Ho Chi Minh City’s People's Hospital 115 whichrecently became the first medical facility in the country to successfully carryout a robotically-assisted brain tumour surgery.

Thirty years ago, its only piece ofequipment had been an x-ray machine.

It currently gets 3,000 to 4,000 patients aday and provides emergency aid to over 400 of others, and was one of the city'sfirst stroke treatment centres, said Dr Phan Van Bau, the hospital’s director.

An investment stimulus programme carriedout by the city had enabled the hospital to acquire the most advancedtechnologies and equipment with loans under the programme, he said.

Tien Tuan Pharmaceutical Machinery Co. Ltdwas another to benefit from the programme.

A company spokesperson said it had got aninterest-free loan of 45 billion VND (1.93 million USD) for building a factoryand buying advanced equipment to expand production.

This enabled it to expand from having 40workers and revenues of 40 billion VND (1.72 million USD) a year to 200 employeesand revenues of nearly 200 billion VND (8.6 million USD), he said.

It is awaiting approval to invest inhigh-tech metalworking equipment using a loan of 10.5 billion VND (451,800 USD)with interest fully subsidised.

In 2015, the municipal People’s Committeehad begun the programme, with technology, manufacturing, supporting industry,trading, agricultural, healthcare, education and training, culture and sports,infrastructure, and environment companies receiving 50-100 percent interestrate subsidies on loans of up to 100 billion VND (4.3 million USD).

Speaking at a recent meeting held by themunicipal People’s Committee to review the programme, delegates said it hadsignificantly stimulated investment in certain sectors, helping shift thecity’s economic structure in the right direction and improving itscompetitiveness.

Tran Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of theDepartment of Planning and Investment, said so far 281 projects costing 23.78trillion VND (1.02 billion USD) had received loans of 11.2 trillion VND (483.02million USD).

Thanks to the subsidised loans, enterpriseshad boldly invested in new production technologies and equipment, he said.

Reviewing the impact of the programme onthe city’s supporting industries, Nguyen Phuong Dong, Deputy Director of theDepartment of Industry and Trade, said the programme had encouraged businessesto invest in sectors targeted by the city such as mechanical engineering,chemicals, plastic, rubber, food and foodstuff, electronics, IT, textiles, andfootwear.

However, delegates at the meetingcomplained about complicated procedures enterprises have to complete to benefitfrom the programme. This loses them market opportunities, making them hesitantabout participating in the programme.

NguyenThanh Phong, Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee, said the investmentstimulus programme, unique in the country, had achieved positive results.

Heinstructed officials involved in the programme to review and simplifyprocedures and reduce the time it takes to appraise applications frombusinesses.

TheChairman also instructed the Department of Planning and Investment to advisethe city on adding and removing sectors based on the situation on the ground.

The cityplanned to double the loan amount to 200 billion VND for a project, he said.

Phong orderedrelevant agencies and business groups to propagate information about theprogramme to enable more businesses to benefit.-VNS/VNA