The delegation of the Vietnam SMEs Association met with Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan before the congress

DNHN - Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan met with the delegation to attend the 4th National Congress of the Vietnam Small and Medium Enterprises Association, term 2023-2028

Mr. Pham Manh Ha - Vice Chairman of the President's Office, Dr. Nguyen Van Than, National Assembly Deputy, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of SMEs, Dr. To Hoai Nam, Standing Vice Chairman cum Chairman of the National Assembly, Mr. General Secretary of the Association, representatives of the Association's Standing Committee, organizations and units attached to the Association, and more than 90 representatives also attended the meeting.

The Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) was founded in 2005, and after more than 17 years of construction and expansion, the Association's organizational structure has expanded from the central to the local level with a substantial number of enterprises. Membership is on the rise. The quality of leaders and staff has increased, the solidarity and performance of the representative function, and the role as a bridge between the Party, the State, the government, and enterprises have improved, and the organization's position and role in gathering, connecting, supporting, and safeguarding the legitimate and legitimate interests of member enterprises has become increasingly assertive...

In 2022, after a long period of being affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, many Vietnamese SMEs have gradually recovered, but the rate of enterprises being dissolved or ceasing operations is still high; many small and medium enterprises have not dared to invest in the development of science and technology, especially core technology, pioneering technology, and a lack of long-term strategic vision has resulted in the majority of small and medium enterprises not meeting the standby requirements. In particular, the connection between small and medium-sized businesses and large businesses remains fragile. Therefore, despite the State's institutionalization and promulgation of pertinent legal documents, such as the Law on SME Support, we have not been able to effectively absorb it.

On the other hand, the Association's organizations, including the Vietnam Association of SMEs, lack an appropriate legal framework to support them, which has a direct impact on the Association's operation and growth. For the Association's activities to become professional and effective, it is believed that the State should soon promulgate a law on the Association, thereby establishing a stronger legal framework to serve as a foundation for the Associations to adjust their strategies, perfect their governance, and carry out their responsibilities.

Dr. Nguyen Van Than - Chairman of the Vietnam Small and Medium Enterprises Association - hopes that the State will soon amend the Law on SME Support and aim to promote the implementation of policies to support SMEs with a focus on the transformation of business households into enterprises, as well as implement the Program to support businesses in the private sector to conduct sustainable business from 2022 to 2025. In addition, the Party, the National Assembly, and the government are advised to allocate 30% of public investment projects for direct participation by SMEs. To promote the progress of projects while simultaneously creating conditions to improve the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises, create jobs for workers, and contribute to economic growth. In addition, the participation of ministries, branches, and localities in coordination with the Association to expedite the implementation of the program and other plans to support digital transformation in enterprises and business households during the period 2021-2025. Plans and projects to improve the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in the global supply chain.

During the meeting, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan praised and congratulated the Vietnam Small and Medium Enterprises Association for its significant achievements during its 17 years of establishment and growth. The association has gathered small and medium-sized businesses from across the nation, growing stronger and more influential in the country's economic development.

Along with the growth of the organization, the Association's activities are becoming of higher quality, with a focus on production and business, trade promotion, investment, and international cooperation; at the same time, the Association guides and assists small and medium-sized businesses in adapting to and embracing the era's new trends in digital transformation, green growth, etc.

The Association constructs and improves laws, policies, and institutions for economic development in Vietnam and the Vietnamese business community. Small and medium-sized businesses actively engage in social activities such as charity work, gratitude, and assisting individuals in preventing and combating natural disasters, pandemics, and epidemics in tandem with their production and business activities, and economic development. sick…

Currently, small and medium-sized enterprises account for approximately 97% of the nation's business community, contribute 45% to GDP and 30% of the state budget, account for 30% of the value of exported goods, and employ 60% of the nation's labor force.

The Vice President emphasized that this is a significant contribution to the country's overall development and that the private sector has become a significant driver of economic growth. The business community, and entrepreneurs including small and medium-sized businesses, gradually build and affirm the brand value not only in the country but also at the regional and international level, thereby affirming the value of Vietnam's national brand on the international stage.

In the context of many advantages coupled with difficulties and challenges, the Vice President suggested that the business community continue to strive to build an image of entrepreneurs and businesses with Vietnamese identity; uphold the spirit of national pride, and business ethics; promote the right to own and fulfill the obligations of enterprises by the law; and have the desire to attain wealth for themselves and the nation.

The Vice President desires that Vietnamese enterprises in general, including Vietnamese small and medium enterprises, continue to be a shock force on the economic front; building a team of Vietnamese businesses and entrepreneurs who are constantly growing and developing, adapting to the current trend and being competitive on the international stage. Concurrently, constructing the value system of Vietnamese enterprises through the standards of culture, business ethics, and responsibility to society and the community; linking and cooperating to form the enterprise community's strength.

The Vice President requested that the Association continue to promote the study of guidelines and policies of the Party and State, creating favorable conditions for members to approach effectively while coordinating with functional agencies to advise the Party, State, and Government to issue appropriate policies to promote the robust development of Vietnamese enterprises in the coming period.

Hanh Nguyen