Lao Cai has implemented many solutions to support and remove difficulties for businesses and people. (Image for illustration purpose)

According to statistics from Lao Cai province up to now, there are over 3,500 enterprises and cooperatives in the province in operation, employing more than 60,000 employees in different fields of business. In which, 305 enterprises temporarily suspended operations with over 20,000 employees affected (up 21% over the same period in 2020), 42 enterprises were dissolved. In addition, there are 14 enterprises that have to downsize or stop production.

At the meeting with the businesses, Mr. Trinh Xuan Truong, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee affirmed: Lao Cai provincial government commits to sharing responsibilities and benefits, persistently supporting and continuing to create the most favorable conditions for the business community in investment, production and business activities in the area. Lao Cai considers the success and prosperity of businesses to be the development of Lao Cai province.

To continue implementing this commitment, recently, Lao Cai province has established the Special Task Force to remove difficulties for businesses and people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Special Task Force is headed by Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee – Mr.Trinh Xuan Truong. 03 Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee as the Standing Vice President and Vice President. Chief Officer of Provincial People's Committee, directors of departments, divisions and branches as members. 

Leaders of Lao Cai province have directed all levels, branches and the Special Task Force to give priority to directly dealing with recommendations and supporting businesses in important and essential fields in order to reduce costs for businesses in their operations, invest, business as well as support businesses facing difficulties due to the Covid -19 pandemic in accordance with regulations and guidance of the Central Government. Directly addressing the petitions of people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, especially the contents related to the policy to support employees and employers facing difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic in the spirit of the right subject, publicity, transparency, not to take advantage of policies.

The province has also issued Plan 382/KH-UBND to implement Resolution No. 105/NQ-CP dated on September 9^th, 2021 of the Government on supporting businesses, cooperatives and business households in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and Plan 387/KH-UBND to support small and medium enterprises in Lao Cai province in 2022.

In 2021, Lao Cai strives to ensure that 70% to 80% of businesses, cooperatives and business households in the area entitle to credit policies to support pandemic response. Basically bringing businesses, cooperatives, and business households that are temporarily suspended back to business. Fully and promptly implement tax payment extension policies; exemption or reduction of taxes, fees and land rents; support to reduce electricity, water, telecommunications charges, policies to support employees, employers, labor training... for businesses, cooperatives and business households facing difficulties due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2022, Lao Cai will continue to promote the implementation of solutions to support customers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in order to restore and develop production and business; increasing capital mobilization to expand credit, focusing on production and business sectors, priority areas include agriculture, rural areas, export, supporting industries, small and medium enterprises, and high-tech application enterprises, start-up businesses, etc. to ensure that all eligible businesses with capital needs are eligible for bank loans. There is mechanism to increase capital to support small and medium enterprises, start-ups and innovative enterprises.

The province continues to implement the policy of exemption and reduction of corporate income tax in accordance with the law. Promoting reform of administrative procedures, application of information technology in tax administration such as: tax declaration, tax payment, electronic tax refund, use of electronic tax invoices, ... in order to reduce costs for businesses. Implementing the reduction of contributions from mining due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Adjusting the fee for using infrastructure works, service works, public utilities in the border-gate area in the province;... 100% support for site clearance and resettlement support, creating the land fund to attract investment projects to build factories, processing facilities for agricultural, forestry, aquatic products and medicinal herbs in Lao Cai province, with the land use scale of 1 hectare or more. 60% support for the investment capital, but not more than 10 billion VND/project for factories and large-scale processing establishments and not more than 02 billion VND for medium-sized processing establishments.

Enhancing the implementation of trade promotion activities in 2022. Supporting enterprises to attend the Northern Region Export Goods Fair (Lao Cai); organizing trade activities with Chinese enterprises according to export commodity groups or regions; Fair of typical rural industrial goods in the North; The fair combines with participation in the Conference on connecting supply and demand in localities in the country; China - Vietnam border trade fair;...In case the situation of Covid-19 pandemic continues to develop complicatedly, implementation of support small and medium-sized enterprises in the province to participate in online commerce promotion programs; setting up stores on major domestic e-commerce platforms; connecting supply and demand, trade fairs and exhibitions in the digital environment;... Guiding and supporting businesses to access useful information and solutions to increase e-commerce skills and develop successful digital thinking through the program "Together, let's move forward". Connecting businesses to promote import and export activities./.