The prolonged outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has exhausted resources of many companies and stalled their production, leading to the risk of supply chain disruptions. Facing this reality, Kien Giang province has focused on diversifying and improving the quality of business support, promptly and effectively applying support policies facilitating them to restore and stabilize production.
Diversified support
To support businesses to find markets for their products amid the raging pandemic, the Kien Giang Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center advised the Provincial People's Committee to coordinate with the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City and the Government of Odisha State (India) to organize an online conference on “Kien Giang - Odisha Cooperation in Agriculture and Fisheries” and hosted a trade connection program attended by seven agricultural and fishery companies of Kien Giang province with Odisha partners.
The center also advised the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Industry and Trade and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to attend the international webinar on “Fostering Vietnam - Africa Agricultural Cooperation” hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, thus giving the chance for Kien Giang enterprises to approach Africa, particularly in agricultural development cooperation.
The center has also actively cooperated with Co.opmart Rach Gia and Co.opmart Rach Soi to launch trade exchange with the local business community to bring products into the supermarket system. It has supported more than 10 businesses to bring nearly 100 typical products into this supermarket chain.
The center also attended the OCOP Product Festival featuring typical products of provinces and cities in 2021 in An Giang province. Kien Giang's pavilion attracted about 100,000 visitors to seek product information. Three main products of the province are likely to be sold in the Tu Son supermarket chain (anchovies, pepper and Phu Quoc fish sauce).
In addition, the center coordinated with relevant agencies and localities to review and update commercial OCOP products, collective brands, typical rural industrial products and locally distinctive products for trade promotion; update information on 12 products on its website (kiegiangpromotion.vn); worked with the Kien Giang Youth Union to survey models that need equipment for production in Giong Rieng, Go Quao and Tan Hiep districts. It enhanced information exchange with trade and investment promotion agencies of other countries in Vietnam.
In order to honor and reward businesses and entrepreneurs who have made efforts to overcome difficulties and grow business operations, the center counseled the Provincial People's Committee to successfully organize the Business Meeting in 2021 and helped local enterprises settle their problems. At the same time, it joined hands with other agencies to advise the Provincial People's Committee to host business dialogues and conferences.
As a PCI advisory body, the Kien Giang Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center cooperated with the Kien Giang Business Association to inform the local business community of the significance and importance of the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI); worked with competent agencies and district-level government to complete the 2020 PCI Analysis Report and propose solutions. These efforts have helped solve problems and shortcomings and strengthen government-business connectivity.
Avoiding disruptions in production and supply chain
Ms. Nguyen Duy Linh Thao, Director of the Kien Giang Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center, said the COVID-19 pandemic is complicated and prolonged, and the Provincial People's Committee directed the center to work with other sectors to launch solutions, promptly grasp business situations and feedback from enterprises to have timely support policies to avoid production and supply chain disruption and help them overcome difficulties.
Other relevant agencies have also accelerated policy support for local businesses and cooperatives; carried out administrative reform, especially online administrative procedures of Level 3 and Level 4 and public utilities services, particularly land procedures.
In response to the National Program for Business Support aimed to help local enterprises to improve productivity and product quality in 2021-2030, on June 7, 2021, the Kien Giang Provincial People’s Committee issued Plan 116/KH-UBND on implementation of this national program in Kien Giang province in 2021, with the top goals of supporting local enterprises to enhance productivity and product quality; having at least 50 companies guided and supported to apply solutions for higher productivity and product quality. Besides, the province will well adopt solutions for freight distribution to ensure smooth supply and demand and assist enterprises to search, access and expand markets.
By Cong Luan, Vietnam Business Forum