Acting President of the State Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh meets typical entrepreneurs

At the meeting, Acting President of the State Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh appreciated the contributions of small and medium-sized enterprises in Vietnam, despite many challenges due to the impact of such global economic and financial crisis as well as domestic economic difficulties, small and medium enterprises still grow in all aspects. Vietnamese SMEs have dynamic characteristics and the ability to quickly adapt to market changes. This increasingly affirms the important role of SMEs in national economic development, contributing 45% to GDP growth annually, 31% to the total state budget revenue and creating more than 5 million jobs.

"In the past years, the Party and the State have always paid attention to the leadership, guidelines and policies to encourage the development and the role of entrepreneurs and enterprises in the construction and protection of the country ", emphasized Acting President of the State Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh.

Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Nguyen Van Than - Chairman of VINASME - National Assembly member, said: Currently, VINASME accounts for nearly 98% of the total 600,000 enterprises nationwide, settles 60% of employees and contributes over 40% of GDP. VINASME has participated actively and dynamically, demonstrates the position, role and attractiveness of an organization representing the business community. As a bridge, VINASME has promptly proposed to the government, the National Assembly and relevant ministries to amend and supplement bills, strengthen some policies closely related to business activities and solve the bottlenecks to promptly remove difficulties for enterprises, bring positive impacts directly to Vietnam's small and medium-sized business community.

In 2018, VINASME signed a cooperation agreement with the Vietnam Foundation for Children (BTTEVN) for 5 years (2018-2022) to jointly implement activities to support children in extremely difficult circumstances. VINASME launched the movement "Businesses and entrepreneurs for Vietnamese children in 2018", which was actively supported by many entrepreneurs and businesses. Recently, VINASME has awarded 1.35 billion VND to the Vietnam Study Encouragement Association Scholarship Fund, and 500 million VND for Vietnam Children Support Fund. This is the amount of money contributed by the business community to the community.

With the spirit of 8th Central conference and the first year of implementing the SME Support Law, there are many contents to support SMEs in terms of credit, production and business facilities, competitiveness, technology, administrative procedures reform that the government is drastically operating, VINASME committed to banks such as BIDV and Lien Viet Post to cooperate closely in providing support solutions for SMEs by comprehensive cooperation agreements. BIDV implemented a 10,000 billion VND credit package with preferential interest rates for members of VINASME and SMEs introduced by the association, which meets the conditions of borrowing in accordance with the law and BIDV. The credit package is also aimed at members of the mutual business group with the aim of encouraging the development of cooperation models of SMEs in production and business activities.

After hearing the report of VINASME and the comments of some delegates at the meeting, the Acting president Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh welcomed and acknowledged the compassionate hearts and the noble gestures of SMEs and entrepreneurs to have actively responded and provided practical support to children in especially difficult circumstances.