Mr. Nguyen Van Than – Chairman of the Small and Medium Enterprises Association
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Mr. Than shared: “We have a close connection with the State Bank of Vietnam. Nearly 1 million small and medium enterprises depend on a very large capital source, which can be said to be the number one. However, the State Bank of Vietnam’s attention to this issue is highly appreciated.”
Therefore, he suggested: Firstly, we must decisively solve the problem of surplus money, the bank has surplus money but cannot lend to businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises that want money to borrow but cannot borrow.
According to Mr. Than, this is a contradiction that has been mentioned in many conferences. The State Bank of Vietnam has also met with the Association many times but still hasn’t found a solution. Mr. Than believes that lowering lending conditions is impossible because it violates international law, violates capital safety, so we must find another method.
Secondly, the bank is not the only agency that can lend to businesses. According to Mr. Than, we have many sources, for example, Vietnam’s current fiscal policy has lending packages of 1%. VINA SME Representative suggests that the Government study to maximize the efficiency of these packages. Only then can businesses in general and small and medium enterprises in general have more sources to access capital.
Thirdly, there are funds, which are meaningful tools to help small and medium-sized enterprises who do not meet the conditions for bank loans. Mr. Than proposed to maximize these funds to support small and medium-sized enterprises, such as the Small and Medium Enterprises Credit Guarantee Fund, the Innovation Fund, the Small and Medium Enterprises Support Fund, etc.
He highly appreciates the Small and Medium Enterprises Support Fund managed by the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Therefore, the Chairman of VINA SME proposes that the Prime Minister direct departments to coordinate with the banking sector and the Ministry of Finance to improve the legal framework for this issue.
Regarding lending interest rates, Mr. Than suggested that the banking sector must strengthen inspections; the Inspection Board should have representatives from associations, such as the Banking Association, the Small and Medium Enterprises Association, and other relevant associations, to participate as members in the Inspection Board; inspection results need to be publicly announced in the media.
Regarding old debts of businesses, “now that interest rates have been reduced, why are old debts still maintained at the old interest rate? I am the pioneer to borrow, but now I still have to bear old debts? I should have immediately enjoyed the new interest rate,” Mr. Than raised the issue and proposed that the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam must have a “firm” solution for banks to adjust old debts of enterprises to the new level.
Thirdly, regarding consumer demand, Mr. Than also suggested to soon have a solution to implement night-time economic development, which both develops tourism and increases domestic absorption.
Finally, the representative of the Small and Medium Enterprises Association also proposed that banks closely inspect lending of branches, not to create difficulties and inconvenience for customers.
