Bac Ninh Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Association Congress: New Term - New Expectations

DNHN - The Chairman of the Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee hopes that in the new term, the Bac Ninh SME Association will promote its role as a bridge, promptly deploying central policies to the business community more substantively and effectively.

A bridge between businesses and the government

On December 19, the Bac Ninh Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Association (the Association) held its 4th Congress to review its activities during the 2017-2023 term and elect a new Executive Committee.

At the Congress, the Association presented a report on the past term, according to which the business community of Bac Ninh province continued to grow strongly in both quantity and quality. In 2017-2018, the province had nearly 10,900 registered enterprises with a total registered capital of over VND 143,900 billion.

As of April 2023, there were more than 18,400 enterprises in operation with a total registered capital of VND 345,250 billion (an increase of nearly twice in quantity and nearly 2.5 times in registered capital). Annual revenue reached nearly VND 15,000 billion.

Together with foreign-invested enterprises and large domestic enterprises, the small and medium-sized enterprise community in the province has made significant contributions to the province's socio-economic development achievements.

In particular, in terms of economic growth, it has contributed to shifting the economic structure towards industrialisation, modernisation, and international integration. It has also contributed to the successful implementation of the socio-economic development goals set out by the 20th Provincial Party Congress.

With the motto "Unity - Creativity - Integration - Aspiration - Reaching Far", the Congress identified the Association's orientations for the coming term as continuing to innovate its content and methods of operation; promoting its role as a bridge, accompanying businesses, focusing on digital transformation, building a corporate and entrepreneurial culture; improving the capacity and efficiency of business production and trading activities, contributing to building a community of small and medium-sized enterprises in Bac Ninh province that is constantly growing, integrating, and developing sustainably, etc.

At the Congress, enterprises expressed their hope that the provincial Association would regularly update policies and, at the same time, have activities to provide feedback on policies and raise difficulties and problems faced by enterprises. The Association also needs to help build a set of regulations and rules in business to help enterprises develop sustainably and provide legal support to enterprises.

Acknowledging and highly appreciating the outstanding achievements of the Association in the third term, Mr. To Hoai Nam - Permanent Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Association (VINASME) affirmed that the Bac Ninh Provincial Association has excellently fulfilled its assigned tasks, inherited the achievements of the 1st and 2nd Congresses, and implemented the resolutions of the Congress as well as the tasks assigned by the province and central agencies.

The Permanent Vice President of VINASME emphasised his desire and asked that the Provincial Association take on the role of a common roof that enterprises can rely on, serving as a conduit between the business community and the management agency.

High targets for the new term

Promoting the tradition of unity and striving to build and develop, the Association identified its orientations for the coming term as continuing to be a common home for the business community, a bridge, and a companion to businesses. Thereby contributing to building a community of small and medium-sized enterprises in Bac Ninh province that is constantly growing, integrating, and developing sustainably; joining hands with the Provincial Party Committee, the government, and the people of the province to build Bac Ninh into a centrally-run city soon.

The Congress set out six targets for the new term, including striving to organise the dissemination and popularisation of the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's laws and policies, directives, resolutions, and regulations of the locality to 100% of member enterprises. Strengthening the mobilisation of membership development, striving to increase the number of new members of the Association by 20-30% compared to the previous term by the end of the term.

In addition, the Association set a target to coordinate with relevant agencies and units to organise 1-2 dialogues between provincial leaders and enterprises in the system. Strive for 80-100% of member enterprises to be supported in digital transformation, application, and participation in e-commerce trading floors; each year, 1-2 enterprises are supported to invest in innovation and apply science and technology in production.

Promoting the social responsibility of the business community, the Congress also set a determination to strive for 80% of member enterprises to participate in supporting humanitarian activities and social charity; and 100% of enterprises in the Association system to build a standard of corporate and entrepreneurial culture.

Acknowledging and highly appreciating the results achieved by the Association in the past term, the Chairman of the Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Huong Giang, hoped that the Association would continue to fulfil its role as a professional social organisation of the small and medium-sized enterprise community, participate extensively with state management agencies in policy-making as well as protecting the legitimate rights and interests of its members. In particular, it is necessary to identify core values, vision, and mission; develop a specific action program; promote its role as a bridge, promptly deploy central and provincial policies and mechanisms to the business community in an increasingly substantive and effective manner; continue to develop a large number of members in quantity and strength in quality.

As a result, the Congress elected the 4th Executive Committee for the 2023-2028 term, consisting of 55 members. The new President of the Association, Nguyen The Hong, expressed his hope and trust in the leadership and direction of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, the Provincial People's Committee, the Vietnam Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Association, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as the coordination, companionship, and support of all levels and sectors in the province so that the member enterprises of the Association will develop further.

On this occasion, on behalf of the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Huong Giang, presented the Government's Emulation Flag to the Bac Ninh Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Association. At the Congress, the Bac Ninh Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Association also donated VND 500 million to the Bac Ninh Provincial Social Security Fund.

The term IV Executive Committee, including 55 allies, was chosen by the Congress for the period 2023–2028. The Bac Ninh Provincial Small and Medium Enterprises Association is honorary chaired by Comrade Nguyen Cong Ngo, a former provincial party committee secretary and provincial people's council chairman, and Mr Nguyen The Hong, director of Nam Hong Royal Museum Co., Ltd., is Chairman of the Provincial Association of small and medium enterprises.

PV