Before the threshold of welcoming the new year of Giap Thin 2024, T.S To Hoai Nam – Standing Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (VINASME) had a discussion and sharing with Cong Thuong Newspaper about the prospects of business activities of the business community.
Business activities are expected to flourish and develop better and more sustainably in 2024. Photo: TTXVN
Looking back on 2023, please let us know the positive development marks of the business community in a challenging and difficult context?
As we can see, in 2023 in the difficult context of the global economy, as well as the domestic economy, the business activities of the Vietnamese business community faced many challenges. However, in the late stages of the year, the domestic economy gradually improved, the business, production, and export activities of many enterprises recovered and accelerated.
This transformation is reflected in production, export indicators, and positive growth in employment rates. In particular, the recovery of enterprises is also reflected in the number of newly established enterprises and enterprises that have returned to operation. Specifically, in 2023, the number of newly registered enterprises was 159,294 enterprises, an increase of 7.2% compared to the same period in 2022, this is the first time it has reached a record level, 1.2 times the average level of the 2017-2022 period and an increase of 4.6% compared to the full-year target of 2023. In addition, the number of enterprises returning to operation in 2023 reached 58,412 enterprises, thereby contributing to bringing the number of enterprises joining and rejoining the market to continue at a level above 200,000 enterprises.
Contributing to the recovery and development of enterprises, first of all, is the impact of important support policies of the state. Remarkably, a series of solutions have been actively implemented by the Government, ministries, localities such as: Reducing interest rates on loans, stabilizing the foreign exchange market; promoting disbursement of investment capital; implementing credit support packages for industries and sectors; removing difficulties, obstacles of the corporate bond market, real estate; social security work is promptly and practically concerned.
At the same time, it is precisely at the most difficult time that the decisive improvement of the business and investment environment of the Government becomes an important factor for enterprises. In particular, the Government always adheres to the principle of “putting the people and businesses at the center of service”, not leaving anyone behind in the reform process, so the legal documents, policies increasingly clearly reflect the ideology, spirit for businesses. This is the important foundation for business operations, development, and has contributed to economic growth in 2023.
In addition, in my opinion, to review a year of enterprise activities and development, it must also emphasize that localities that implement strong business and investment environment reforms, as well as flexible support policies, consider the operation of enterprises as a place where enterprises develop very well.
T.S To Hoai Nam – Standing Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises. Photo: Can Dung
From the positive results of 2023, entering 2024, can you share about the prospects of business activities of the business community, especially small and medium-sized enterprises?
In the context where there are no major changes in the world situation, the domestic economy has many advantages for development. At the same time, based on the momentum of institutional reform, comprehensive implementation of the Government’s goals in Resolution No. 02/NQ-CP on the main objectives and solutions to improve the business environment, enhance national competitiveness in 2024, the activities of enterprises will be excellent, developing better and more sustainably.
Accordingly, we have great expectations for the goal of Resolution No. 02/NQ-CP to create a favorable business environment for investment, business activities, and the development of new, innovative business ideas. Reform in the direction of reducing the number of procedures, time, costs, and risks for enterprises. Improve the quality of policy building; comprehensive impact assessment based on scientific evidence and practice before proposing new regulations or amending and supplementing regulations affecting people and businesses.
Along with that, entering the new year of 2024, according to our observations, the business community of Vietnam is dynamic, with a strong development spirit and many enterprises are looking for new directions, especially focusing on promoting digital economy development, improving competitiveness in the process of economic integration. Therefore, we have great expectations that this will continue to bring opportunities for enterprises to develop strongly.
However, besides the efforts and determination of enterprises, how should policies and business environment continue to improve to “support” business operations?
As I have shared, in 2023, we all saw that the business environment had been improved and had a positive impact on enterprises but faced with the demands of innovation in the economy, it is still necessary to continue to promote strong, comprehensive innovation in accordance with the set principle of putting enterprises and people at the center of service.
In which, it is necessary to encourage the development of public services, to publicize and transparently provide administrative procedure information; removing obstacles to administrative procedures, while increasing access to capital for enterprises, creating opportunities for innovation, investment, and production…
On the other hand, localities and ministries should be more flexible and proactive in quickly responding to the market; enhancing interaction mechanisms, accessing information, listening to businesses, local authorities, organizing and implementing dialogue forums between businesses and management agencies to give businesses the opportunity to share difficulties and problems… thereby having timely solutions.
In addition, businesses must always innovate in their operations, focusing on sustainable business production, enhancing digital transformation, better compliance with the law. Especially, continuously updating policies to understand regulations, business rights, thereby resolving difficulties for themselves.
Moreover, the export market nowadays requires stricter and safer for consumers, businesses that want to exploit the advantages brought by FTAs must accept this common rule of the game. Accordingly, enterprises must pay attention to compliance, meet the production, origin, and product quality standards of the international market.
Although there will be difficulties and challenges in investment and development, production of green, clean goods due to limited resources of enterprises. However, if persevered, it will bring sustainable opportunities for businesses to penetrate potential markets, large markets. Our enterprises will gradually establish a position, improve their competitiveness in the international market, and affirm the brand for Vietnamese products and goods.
Thank you!
