What are the policies to support enterprises in “overcoming” the COVID-19 pandemic?

Many solutions have been implemented

According to the report on the implementation of policies and solutions to support enterprises sent to the Prime Minister's online conference with enterprises and localities this morning (September 26), to facilitate customs clearance procedures for enterprises, the General Department of Customs has drafted a Circular stipulating customs procedures for imported goods serving urgent requirements for Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control; submit documents in customs dossiers and conduct physical inspection of exported and imported goods in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. The draft circular is being finalized for submission to the Ministry of Justice for comments.

Along with that, the General Department of Customs has sent an official dispatch directing the customs departments to arrange a sufficient number of officers to work during holidays and overtime, ensuring continuous and timely customs clearance under legal regulations.

Regarding the requirement to remove difficulties in accessing loans for enterprises purchasing and temporarily storing rice, the State Bank has issued Official Letter 5747/NHNN-TD.

After a month of implementation, outstanding loans for purchasing and consuming rice in the Mekong Delta have increased by nearly VND5,000 billion, credit limit  increased by VND1,500 billion.

From the beginning of September 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade have also continuously worked online with localities, business associations and enterprises to remove difficulties and promote goods consumption. In particular, solutions to reduce electricity bills and reduce telecommunications charges have been implemented since August 2021 with a total value of five rounds of electricity price reduction support of about VND16,950 billion.

Regarding solutions to ensure stable production, smooth, efficient and safe circulation of goods, and overcome supply chain disruptions, the Ministry of Transport organizes weekly briefings with 63 departments of Transport, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to ensure smooth circulation of goods. By now, vehicle identification papers have been automatically issued on the software for about 592,691 vehicles.

The policies and solutions to support enterprises have been highly appreciated by the domestic and foreign business community and are expected to solve the problems that enterprises are facing. Photo: Samsung Vietnam.

What do enterprises want?

However, according to the assessment of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, through reflections from the business community, there are still some limit ations, existing in the implementation stage, causing difficulties in accessing the Government's support policies. The implementation of a number of policies is still quite tight, rigid and inconsistent in some localities, causing difficulties for the beneficiaries, not covering all situations arising in reality, some localities have not performed actively.

Notably, the rate of enterprises accessing a number of supportive policies on tax, credit, and preferential loans is still low due to complicated procedures and unsuitable conditions. The existing conflicts among the laws governing production and business activities have not been thoroughly resolved, causing difficulties for enterprises. In particular, the issue that enterprises continue to recommend the most is the urgent need to guide the application of safe production conditions in the new situation and the opening plan of localities so that enterprises can make production and business plans.

In order to continue to support enterprises to remove difficulties, the Ministry of Planning and Investment recommends speeding up the implementation of Resolution No. 105/NQ-CP and policies and solutions on prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic with the spirit of close public-private cooperation to synchronously promote the resources of the state and enterprises.

At the same time, the Government Office has guidelines to approve scanned documents sent online to solve production, business and administrative procedures until performing public services at level 4. Increase concessional lending through the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund; develop and implement non-financial support solutions to enhance financial access for enterprises in the 2021-2025 period.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade continues to monitor, evaluate and consider a plan to reduce the cost of essential services such as electricity and gasoline by 10-30%.

On the part of localities, it is necessary to urgently develop and announce plans for Covid-19 prevention and control and economic recovery/opening plans. At the same time, together with enterprises, actively research and agree on plans and conditions for safe production and business, adapting to local developments and actual conditions of enterprises; minimize the closure of the whole factory.