Quang Ninh Steps up Support and Troubleshooting for Businesses

Nguyen Van Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, briefed the province’s social and economic performances in the first quarter of 2015. Economic growth was estimated at 8.4 percent, the highest in three years. State budget revenue was projected at VND9,083 in the first three months of 2015, equal to 25 percent of the full-year estimation and up 9 percent from a year earlier, of which domestic revenue accounted for a record of VND5,211 billion, up 49 percent year on year. Credit growth improved, with total outstanding loans of VND71,300 billion as of the end of March, up 6.7 percent over December 31, 2014. As many as 202 businesses were set up in the January-March period with a combined registered value of VND2,675 billion, up 5.7 percent in new businesses and 294.5 percent in registered capital value. The new business entities employed 2,200 workers. Investment projects were kicked off and accelerated. Site clearance for important projects was ensured and accelerated, especially projects in Van Don Economic Zone. Particularly, the province licensed 21 new projects with VND11,343 billion, an increase of 2.1 times over the corresponding quarter of 2014.

 

 

To support businesses to boost operations and deal with difficulties, answer questions concerning international integration and business laws, particularly in the process of deepening and broadening international integration, Luong Hoang Thai, Director of Multilateral Trade Policy Department specifically presented opportunities and challenges to businesses when the Vietnam - ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) come into force. He pointed out opportunities for Vietnam like enlisting international cooperation to serve socioeconomic development and raise the position on international arena; promoting export; and attracting investment. Meanwhile, competition pressures on domestic companies, law modification and limited human resources are the challenges that we are facing.

 

In 2014, Quang Ninh met with many domestic and foreign investors and resolved 284 recommendations from them, including credit access and interest rate, human resources development, commercial infrastructure development and further administrative reform.

 

During this meeting, 16 opinions of enterprises were sent to relevant authorities. Main contents were land policies, environmental resource management, mineral management, cross-border trade policies, and business security for businesses. Nguyen Van Doc, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, gave satisfactory answers to all questions from businesses.

 

Concerning the request for support of rubbish compactors for rural environmental sanitation from Hai Ha Co., Ltd, Chairman Nguyen Van Doc affirmed that the province gave special priority to new countryside construction programmes. Hence, the province was committed to subsidising all interests incurred from the company’s purchase of waste compactors and introducing the company to partner banks of Quang Ninh province.

 

Regarding the proposal of the Vietnam National Coal, Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin) for permission to export dust coal to reduce costs and increase tax revenue and rearrange coal processing facilities in the city, Chairman Doc affirmed that the province will introduce suitable mechanisms and policies for businesses and will report to the Government for further solution beyond its authority. The province supported the relocation of coal screening plants to suitable locations.

 

Texhong Ngan Long Science and Technology Co., Ltd, a foreign investor, praised efforts of Quang Ninh province over the past time. “Texhong Ngan Long spent just two years completing the construction of many items. With a premise of 35 ha, the company spent US$350 million building five production factories, four dormitories, one administrative office block, one canteen and one 110-KV transformer station. We could not achieve such indispensably speedy progress without the support of Quang Ninh province and Mong Cai City. With effective legal assistance, we obtained business certificate in just one day. On the occasion of this event, we would like to thank Quang Ninh province and Mong Cai City for their support,” said the company’s director.

 

Pham Van The, Chairman and CEO of Hoang Ha Group Joint Stock Company and Chairman of the Quang Ninh Business Association, highly appreciated the care of the Provincial People's Committee for the business community via its “Change and travel with businesses” programme. Besides, local authorities also actively supported the company. In 2015, the provincial government was expected to continue to accompany businesses to stable and sustainable development.

 

Concluding the meeting, Pham Minh Chinh, Secretary of Provincial Party Committee, said the province has endeavoured to accompany businesses by improving the business and investment environment like introducing exclusive mechanisms and policies for businesses investors, reforming and reducing administrative procedures, addressing weaknesses in transportation infrastructure, human resources and management, and renewing the political system.

 

On this occasion, the Provincial People's Committee handed certificates of merit to 10 companies with great contributions to local social security. Hoang Ha Group Joint Stock Company donated VND5 billion to social welfare programmes.