12/08/2021
The conference was held in the context of the Covid-19 epidemic which has had a negative impact on the socio-economics around the world, including Vietnam. With the spirit of accompanying businesses, over the past time, the Government and the Prime Minister have promptly issued many policies and solutions to help remove difficulties for production and business activities of enterprises, contributing to maintaining positive GDP growth in 2020 and the first 6 months of 2021 reaching 5.64%. However, at present, the situation of the Covid-19 epidemic is still very complicated, the spreading is very fast (especially the outbreak in July 2021), businesses are continuing to face challenges while the reserve resources are dwindling, the market has not shown any signs of recovery or is recovering very slowly.
Speaking at the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh thanked entrepreneurs and businesses for their contributions over the past time. The government shares, accompanies and supports businesses and entrepreneurs when facing difficulties. This is the time of "Fire proves gold, adversity proves men", "Never say die" to overcome difficulties, forecast and seize opportunities with a foresight, broad vision associated with the forecast of the situation in the coming time.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the Government understands, shares and sympathizes with the accumulated difficulties of businesses in recent times. Therefore, within their capacity, the Government, ministries, branches and localities have made efforts to create the best conditions to support businesses in terms of mechanisms and policies to maintain, restore and develop production. However, in the coming time, businesses will continue to face many difficulties and challenges and need solutions to restore production. Therefore, this conference is an important occasion for the Government and the Prime Minister to listen to aspirations, suggestions and recommendations from businesses, associations, localities, agencies with the viewpoint: "Listen, understand, share, accompany", and build solutions with the spirit of "Evaluation, solution, practicality, efficiency".
08 groups of solutions to improve business resilience
At the conference, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said that from the beginning of 2020, the Covid-19 epidemic has had a negative impact on the socio-economic conditions of countries around the world, including Vietnam. Vietnam. With the spirit of accompanying businesses, over the past time, the Government and the Prime Minister have promptly issued many policies and solutions to help remove difficulties for production and business activities of enterprises, contributing to maintaining positive GDP growth in 2020 and the first 6 months of 2021 reaching 5.64%.
However, the fourth outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially starting from July 2021, has made the business resilience continue to decline. Specifically, according to statistics, the number of newly established businesses in July 2021 decreased by 34% compared to the same period last year. Generally in the first 7 months of 2021, the number of newly registered enterprises increased by 0.8% over the same period in 2020; this is the lowest increase in the period 2016-2020 (average 8.1%). Meanwhile, the number of businesses withdrawing from the market increased by 25.5% over the same period in 2020, Ho Chi Minh City alone. Ho Chi Minh City accounted for 29.1% of the total number of enterprises withdrawing from other countries. In particular, there have appeared more medium and large enterprises withdrawing from the market.
Another point of further concern is that this fourth wave of epidemics has penetrated and negatively impacted industrial parks and export processing zones, where a large number of workers are concentrated, especially in provinces and cities in Southern key economic region, leading to the risk of supply chain disruption, labor chain, large-scale production, greatly affecting the local economy and the whole country.
Through reports, it is shown that, amid the outbreak of the disease, which has spread to many provinces and cities across the country, the obstacles and difficulties of enterprises have become increasingly piled up, many problems need to be handled immediately so as not to interrupt or stop production and business activities of enterprises.
As the Government's general advisory agency, the Ministry of Planning and Investment proposes to thoroughly grasp the spirit of "fighting the pandemic is like to fight against invaders", all levels, branches and localities must focus on the fight with efforts, prioritize all resources to control the Covid-19 epidemic, stabilize business production for recovery and development. On that basis, the Ministry of Planning and Investment proposed the Prime Minister to consider and assign relevant ministries, branches, localities and organizations to study and implement 08 groups of solutions divided into 02 levels: A group of urgent policies and solutions that need to be implemented immediately and a group of long-term policies, forming a foundation to support businesses to recover and develop.
Accelerate vaccination schedule, with priority given to workers
At the conference, businesses, associations and organizations highly appreciated the efforts of the Vietnamese Government in accompanying businesses. Amid complicated developments of the epidemic and a tight budget, the Government has made great efforts in arranging financial resources to support businesses to overcome difficulties and maintain production. This affirms the consistent policy of the Government to promptly remove difficulties, solve problems in terms of mechanisms and policies, accompany businesses, etc. The difficulties reported by enterprises, the Government has handled and resolved very promptly. In addition, the businesses also affirmed its strong determination in upholding the spirit of overcoming difficulties, the self-reliance to cope with and adapt to the new situation; maintaining the efficiency of production and business activities and creating jobs for employees, successfully implement the "dual goal", both effectively combating the epidemic, while maintaining and promoting production and business development.
The Conference agreed with the view that the most important and urgent solution today is to speed up the vaccination rate to achieve herd immunity, in which priority is given to the target group: employees and professionals working in enterprises. This is the key to solving the problem of supply chain disruptions as well as taking full advantage of export opportunities from signed free trade agreements to restore and develop the economy and affirms its position in the eyes of foreign investors. Businesses are willing to support the Government in purchasing vaccines.
There is a need for nationwide uniform guidelines on the implementation of "3 on-site" and "1 road - 2 locations"
Mr. Nguyen Hoai Nam, Deputy General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), suggested that the Ministry of Health complete the Code (as the US CDC and some countries have) and organize training sessions for provinces and businesses to implement "On-site Medical". The Ministry of Health needs to guide businesses in timely handling in the implementation of "3 on-site" such as detecting F0 to control infection sources, reduce losses for businesses and ensure workers' livelihoods, ensure disease safety for the whole factory. In addition, the representative of VASEP suggested that there should be nationwide uniform guidelines on the implementation of "1 road - 2 locations" in compliance with 5K regulations and epidemic prevention regulations of enterprises and local health authorities. In which "1 road" is to ensure the route from home to the company and from the company to home with controlled conditions and "2 locations" is at the factory and residence in compliance with epidemic prevention regulations.
Continuing to accelerate support packages, lower taxes, fees and interest rates for businesses
Mr. Nguyen Van Than, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (VINASME), said that it is necessary to further accelerate the disbursement of the 26 trillion VND support package, especially for the southern provinces, in order to timely support subjects affected by the epidemic to overcome difficulties, maintain operations and stabilize their lives. At the same time, it is recommended that more drastic solutions are needed in trade promotion, brand promotion, export expansion and the need to make use of opportunities created by next-generation free trade agreements our country has joined.
Ms. Do Thi Thuy Huong, member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam E-Business Association, said that taxes and fees are a burden for businesses amid complicated epidemics. This association proposes to reduce 50% of all taxes: value added tax, corporate income, import and personal income for employees. For other taxes, the Association proposes to extend the payment period from 6-12 months; 50% reduction in land rent for 2 years (2020-2021); the loan interest rate is reduced by 30% compared to the normal interest rate for loans and new loans.
Mr. Nguyen Hoai Nam (VASEP) said that the cost of electricity is one of the biggest difficulties of businesses, especially seafood producers. Therefore, there should be policies on reducing bank loan interest rates, reducing electricity bills by 30% until at least the end of 2021.
Launching "Green War" to fight Covid-19
Mr. Truong Gia Binh, Head of the Research and Development Department of the Private Economy (Board IV), Chairman of FPT Group, suggested that the Government should have a view on "green enterprises" to both fight the epidemic and develop the economy. Specifically, launching the "Green War" to fight Covid-19 with criteria such as: green workers (vaccinated), green factories (with green workers), green industrial parks (with factories). green). From there, production and business activities can return to the new normal state. The formation of green manufacturing, transportation, and green logistics enterprises is an important foundation for coming here to continue developing green tourism businesses, green aviation enterprises, etc. The most important thing to carry out this war is: (i) minimizing the number of deaths; (ii) expanding green zones and (iii) modern weapons (information technology, complete data, indicators must be clear and coherent, the head must be authorized and responsible...).
The Government needs to direct relevant authorities to issue QR codes to all subjects who complete vaccination on technology platforms to create operating conditions for green businesses without requiring documents and current administrative procedures.
Restoring and developing tourism on the basis of expanding the "green zone"
Mr. Tran Trong Kien, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Council said that tourism is a key economic sector and should be considered a spearhead industry in the coming time. The most important thing for the tourism industry is how to expand "green zones" and how to connect these regions together. Along with that, the Government should prepare and pilot for opening doors to the outside world in some areas such as Phu Quoc, Van Don ... when Vietnam has enough vaccines for the majority of people.
Removing regulatory problems for business experts
Regarding the problems of foreign-invested enterprises, the US - ASEAN Business Council proposed to exempt quarantine for vaccine passport holders and adhere to a short working schedule. For special entry cases such as having a plane carrying survey teams for billion-dollar investment projects, specific epidemic prevention regulations are needed because of the low level of risk and the importance of these delegations in consistent with the policy of attracting investment of our country. At the same time, the information and guidelines on disease prevention and control are still scattered in many portals, so it is necessary to study and build a unified portal for this issue.
In addition, representatives of the Korean Business Association and the Japan Business Association wished the Government to create more favorable conditions for foreign experts to enter Vietnam in the spirit of ensuring safety against the epidemic and recommend state management agencies to adjust conditions on experience, regulations on degrees and work permits for experts, shorten administrative procedures for projects pending approval for early implementation.
The government listens and accompanies businesses
After listening to the business community's opinions, the Government members had committed to solving the difficulties and obstacles that businesses raised at the Conference.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said that the implementation of dual goals is the right policy. The issued policies need to be implemented flexibly and creatively. The Minister suggested that localities must strictly follow the Government's direction on the circulation of goods in the spirit that all goods are essential, except for banned goods, without setting different conditions and requirements. Regarding the proposal of VASEP on power bill cuts, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien affirmed that he will work with the Vietnam Electricity (EVN).
Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung said that the current directives and guidelines on epidemic prevention and control are still fragmented and unconnected, so the unified and synchronous database has not yet been formed, which is difficult for businesses to monitor and implement. The Ministry of Information and Communications will receive comments at the Conference and build a Portal on Covid-19 prevention and control right next week.
Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The accepted responsibility to businesses for traffic jams in some places over the past time. Following the direction of the Government leadership, the Ministry has issued QR codes for cargo trucks, drivers and assistants with negative tests valid for 72 hours, only testing at the beginning and end points.
Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long affirmed that the Government and the Prime Minister did not have any documents on restricting the circulation of goods, but many localities understood and applied improperly and mechanically. Even in places of lockdown and distance, the Prime Minister further emphasized the need to ensure goods and essential necessities for people.
Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh expressed his high agreement with many proposals of businesses to the authorities in removing difficulties, especially in solving difficulties in banking interest rates and taxes; focus on promoting public investment projects to serve socio-economic development goals.
Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai suggested that localities should strictly and consistently follow the Government's instructions in ensuring the circulation and movement of goods, to avoid causing congestion of goods in circulation from one place to another.
Harmonized benefits, shared risks
Concluding at the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that this is a period where difficulties and challenges are more than opportunities and advantages. However, the Government is determined to set the goal of not allowing a socio-economic crisis to occur, striving to bring our country back to a new normal state as soon as the end of 2021 or at the earliest. at the latest in the first quarter of 2022. To achieve this goal requires strict and drastic implementation of measures in a unified manner, as well as the awareness of each citizen.
Regarding the vaccine strategy, the Prime Minister emphasized three vital points:
One is to import vaccines as much as possible and as soon as possible. Amid global shortage of vaccines, we have made efforts to access vaccines through all different channels, including promoting vaccine diplomacy. Businesses and localities cannot access the supply because suppliers only work with the Governments.
Second, promote technology transfer, research and domestic production of vaccines. This work has already achieved some initial results, but related to people's health, it must be strictly professional and scientific, although it may be slowed in terms of procedures and administration;
Third, the vaccination campaign is completely free for the people. At the same time, it must be done according to the location and object, then adjusted according to the new situation.
In the spirit of harmonizing benefits, sharing risks, the Party, State and Government are always interested in accompanying, understanding and sharing with businesses and entrepreneurs. The Government is doing and making every effort in the country's conditions to remove difficulties and promote business production for businesses amid complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic. The opinions of the delegates will be aggregated so that after this Conference, the Government will have a Resolution on supporting businesses in the current conditions, the Government's Resolution to implement Resolution No. 30/2021 /QH15 of the National Assembly.
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