Hanoi (VNA) – PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has directed authorised agencies to focus on supportingbusinesses to overcome challenges caused by the COVID-19 crisis and take advantageof opportunities for soon recovering.

He called on thebusiness community and people to join hands with the Government in combatingthe disease, towards completing socio-economic development objectives set for2020 by the National Assembly and the Government.

The PM ordered ministries, ministerial-level agencies, Government agencies and localauthorities to urgently consider and handle proposals of the business communityand relevant agencies, thus taking measures to remove difficulties facing businessesamid the pandemic.

The Ministry ofPlanning and Investment was requested to coordinate with the Government Officeand relevant agencies to outline a draft Government resolution on tasks andsolutions to help enterprises recover and promote production and business, and toaccelerate the disbursement of public investment.

Meanwhile, ministries,ministerial-level agencies, Government agencies and People’s Committees oflocalities nationwide were asked to devise specific action plans to implement theabove-mentioned resolution after it is issued.

The PM required the Ministry of Finance to coordinate with relevant agencies toreview and propose the extension, exemption and reduction of a number of feesand charges, in order to remove difficulties facing businesses.

The State Bank of Vietnam will be responsible for instructing creditinstitutions to reduce interest rates of existing loans and new loans for businesses and people.

The PM ordered theMinistry of Industry and Trade to take measures to ensure materials fordomestic production, and consolidate the domestic market and seek new exportmarkets.

The Ministry of LabourInvalids and Social Affairs was asked to extend and grant new work permits forforeign experts, business managers and technical workers who are working inenterprises.

The PM  also required the Vietnam Chamber of Commerceand Industry to work with concerned agencies to continue summing updifficulties and proposals of the business community, thus proposing solutionsand initiatives to improve the business environment and national competitiveness,and promote business participation in public-private cooperation mechanisms./.