FOCUS ON SUPPORTING AND SOLVING DIFFICULTIES FOR BUSINESSES

Businesses' difficulties

The whole province currently has 26 industrial parks qualified to receive investment (occupancy rate reached 67.41%), attracting 1,882 projects, of which there are 932 foreign investment projects with a total investment capital of 6 36 billion USD and 950 domestic investment projects with a total capital of 140,763.9 billion VND.

In addition, the province currently has 17 operating industrial clusters, attracting 646 projects (the occupancy rate of active industrial clusters reached 83.62%).

After the Covid-19 epidemic and the negative impact of the world economy, many businesses in the province faced a "vortex of difficulties".

With great determination, many businesses strived to overcome difficulties and gradually stabilized production and business activities. However, many businesses still have difficulties and problems affecting production and business activities.

Provincial leaders always care about and support businesses to overcome difficulties and feel secure in investing and developing (Photo: Dialogue conference with Korean businesses in 2024 organized by the Provincial People's Committee)

At the 2024 Dialogue Conference with Korean Enterprises on April 16 organized by the Provincial People's Committee, the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Long An (KOCHAM Long An) representing 76 member enterprises shared about the difficulties of businesses.

Chairman of the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Long An - Ho Joong shares some opinions and recommendations at the 2024 Dialogue Conference with Korean Businesses organized by the Provincial People's Committee

Chairman of KOCHAM Long An - Ho Joong said: Korean companies are facing many difficulties in the investment and business operations process.

With each difficulty, companies always strive to solve it. However, KOCHAM Long An hopes to receive attention and support from the province about: issues after being granted investment license and receiving investment capital; fire prevention licensing procedures and construction completion permits; indirect infrastructure construction, investment in hotels and resorts; etc.

CEO of Speed Vina Company (Duc Hoa district) - Kang Chun Seok shared: "In the past, tax refunds for foreign investors had many advantages, promoting development. However, recently, the value-added tax refund process in the province has many complicated regulations, hindering business activities of foreign-invested enterprises.

Therefore, I recommend that all levels and sectors in the province review the value-added tax refund procedures, cut down unnecessary procedures or simplify procedures on the basis of reasonable regulations."

CEO of Lotte Global Logistics Company (Can Giuoc district) - Lee Kang Min has a proposal about the delay in issuing working permits and visas for foreign workers.

Meanwhile, for businesses with foreign investment capital, employing foreign workers is inevitable, so they hope the province has solutions.

The current world economic situation, especially the impact of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine,etc, disrupts the global supply chain. Tan Thanh Loi Co. Ltd. (Thu Thua district) was affected a lot, especially the selling price of the company's products in foreign markets. Meanwhile, production materials have high prices.

Deputy Director of Tan Thanh Loi Co. Ltd - Le Hong Nhut informed: "The company's main raw material is fish but currently the price of farmed fish is high. As for natural fish, we are also facing a serious shortage of raw materials due to the effects of saltwater intrusion and water shortage in the Mekong Delta.

With these difficulties, the company hopes for the companionship of workers and labor to overcome them together. At the same time, the company hopes that all levels, sectors, and Trade Union organizations will pay attention and care for workers and laborers, helping them work with peace of mind and have a long-term attachment to the company."

Focus on implementing solutions

With efforts and solidarity, the Party Committee, government, people, and businesses in the province together overcomed the "headwinds" of the global economy, maintaining a decent economic growth rate. In 2023, the province's GRDP reached 5.77%, higher than the national average; In the first quarter of 2024, it reached a positive growth rate of 4.83%, the highest compared to the same period in the last 3 years.

Thereby, it can be confirmed that the province's economy is in a strong recovery period. That result has an important contribution from businesses operating in the province. Therefore, the province focuses and strive to removing difficulties, helping businesses develop more sustainably, and contribute to the socio-economic development.

Director of Department of Planning and Investment - Truong Van Liep answers some questions and recommendations of businesses

According to Director of the Department of Planning and Investment - Truong Van Liep, the province established a special working group to remove difficulties and obstacles and support businesses, investors, and investment projects in the province. The working group is led by the provincial leaders, with members are heads of departments, branches and local People's Committees.

The Standing agency of the working group is the Department of Planning and Investment, which is responsible for receiving information and recommendations from the business community in the province; proactively monitoring and coordinating with relevant agencies to resolve; or reporting to the Provincial People's Committee to direct a complete solution or propose to the Central agency to guide and resolve cases beyond its authority. The working group receives information via text, email, call center, google form link or meets and works directly to promptly resolve difficulties for businesses.

At the Dialogue Conference with Korean Enterprises in 2024, Colonel Van Cong Minh - Deputy Director of the Provincial Police, committed that any enterprise encountering problems with fire prevention during the construction investment process should contact contact the Provincial Police directly for support and resolution as soon as possible.

Regarding the issue of slow issuance of work permits, according to the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the application process for granting work permits to foreigners has had many adjustments, has been shortened and simpler, creating favorable conditions for businesses such as using previously issued work permits to prove work experience, certified copies of passports or copies of passports with employer's confirmation that the labor license is still valid according to the provisions of law, the procedure for reissuing the labor permit has reduced one document component, etc.

Regarding value-added tax refund, the province also commits to refunding tax to foreign-invested enterprises as soon as possible.

In addition, Unions at all levels must focus on taking care of workers and laborers, contributing to helping them feel secure in their work, staying and contributing to the development of businesses. In 2023, during the Lunar New Year and Workers' Month, unions at all levels focused on organizing activities to care for union members and workers at businesses and boarding houses with a total amount of 101.1 billion VND; On the occasion of commemorating the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs, the Establishment Day of Vietnamese Union, unions at all levels organized many practical activities to take care of the lives of union members and workers with a total amount of tens of billions of VND; etc.

In addition, the Provincial Labor Federation organized delegations to visit and encourage businesses, grassroots unions and workers after Tet to understand the situation, difficulties, problems and suggestions of businesses and workers, thereby advising the Provincial Party Committee and coordinating with the Provincial People's Committee to promptly find solutions to remove difficulties and help stabilize production and business activities of enterprises.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - Nguyen Van Ut affirms that Long An will always be a friendly investment destination for businesses

At the Dialogue Conference with Korean Businesses in 2024, Chairman of Provincial People's Committee - Nguyen Van Ut emphasized the motto of always accompanying businesses. In the coming time, the province will continue to focus resources to invest in perfecting the socio-economic infrastructure system, speed up the progress of industrial parks, and create a clean land fund to attract investment.

The province also deploys human resource training, builds social housing for workers, provides adequate and timely labor resources for businesses to invest in the province, etc so that Long An will always is a friendly investment destination for businesses.

It can be seen that Long An always strives to remove difficulties and create a favorable investment environment for businesses to operate stably, long-term, and effectively because the province clearly determines that the success of businesses is the overall success and the motivation for the province to constantly improve the investment environment and accompany the business community./.

Reported by An Nhien 

Translated by NT