Dozens of businesses have voiced their recommendations on issues to restore production and business.

On March 1, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung met with enterprises to assess the situation and propose additional support policies for Covid-19-hit businesses.

This time last year, the Ministry of Planning and Investment held a similar meeting to hear about difficulties, problems and proposals from the business community.

After that, the Ministry advised the Government to issue policies to support businesses. Although a number of supporting policies have not been very effective, in general, the support package has helped businesses maintain production and supply chains, and provided social security support for the people, the poor, and disadvantaged households.

The Covid-19 pandemic is still unpredictable, so production and business situation still faces challenges and difficulties. Minister Nguyen Chi Dung said that he had asked that the Government for permission to design a second aid package.

According to research by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the health of the Vietnamese business community is at its least optimistic level.

Business registration situation in 2020 saw a decrease in the number of newly established enterprises with more than 134,900 enterprises, a decrease of 2.3% compared to 2019. The total number of registered employees of newly established firm in 2020 is more than 1 million people, down 16.9% compared to 2019.

Mr. Nguyen Chi Sang, Vice Chairman, General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Mechanical Industry (VAMI), said that the biggest difficulty for businesses is seeking new orders.

A representative of VAMI suggested that the Government support business owners with quarantine isolation costs for foreign experts. VAMI also proposed creating conditions for domestic firms to participate in domestic bidding projects.

Mr. Le Ngoc Duc, General Director of Hyundai Thanh Cong, proposed reducing registration fees for domestically produced cars until 2021.

Meanwhile, an official of the Vietnam Steel Association said that the steel market has had only moderate production, with very few transactions. Goods circulation is slow due to slow domestic demand. Transportation of materials and goods in Northeastern provinces (Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Hung Yen, Quang Ninh, ...) was difficult after the outbreak in Hai Duong and Quang Ninh.

The Steel Association has proposed that the State Bank of Vietnam and joint stock commercial banks have credit support policies such as extending and prolonging the time for debt payments and at the same time lower interest rates to help steel producers overcome this difficult period.

Mr. Truong Van Cam, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS), said that textile export turnover in 2020 reached over $35 billion, down 9.8% compared to 2019. In the first two months in 2021, the export turnover was estimated at $5.8 billion, an increase of 4% over the same period of 2020.

Local producers do not lack new orders, but prices have decreased. Enterprises, especially those in the epidemic-hit areas, face difficulties due to inconsistent rules on circulation of goods among provinces.

Representatives of textile and garment enterprises suggested that the second support package should have criteria and conditions that are closer to reality, so that businesses can have easier access to the support package.

Luong Bang