Da Nang has implemented many supportive guidelines and policies with the aim of supporting businesses across the city to innovate technology, thereby contributing to increasing productivity, expanding consumer markets, and step by step making recovery strides amid COVID-19.

Many newly implemented policies have been quickly put into practice, providing practical and timely support for businesses to recover from the COVID-19 impacts. The representative of Tam Nguyen business establishment (2nd from the left) introduces new equipment purchased by the use of financila aid from the industrial promotion programme in 2021. Photo: KHANH HOA

Highly practical support for corporate production

Mr. Nguyen Len, the owner of Tam Nguyen ginger tea production establishment located in Ngu Hanh Son District was confidently said that the re-operation of the production line since the end of September has doubled productivity as compared to the beginning of the year.

The encouraging result has been mainly attributed to the establishment's reasonable purchase of 10 new machines valued a total of VND220 million for the sake of production enhancement, of which VND90 million came from the municipal budget in form of financial support.

The advanced machinery system not only helps the establishment achieve its goal of raising the capacity to 7,000 bottles of ginger tea containing 250ml each  by the end of 2021 but it also facilitates the production of 3 more bottled product lines from fresh ginger and turmeric with 100ml, 150ml and 200ml respectively as well as expand consumer markets for nutritional products with ingredients from agricultural products.

As one of the three enterprises producing souvenirs targeting tourists to VND300 million worth of aid from the municipal administration-approved local industrial promotion programme, the Inteltech Applications and Technology Solutions One Member Limited Company headquartered in Cam Le District has invested nearly VND1 billion into purchasing advanced machinery used to create new tourism products such as 2D and 3D inkjet printing on glass and crystal.

Such an amount of VND300 million from the local industrial promotion programme is the most substantive support for businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises like Inteltech after having suffered many negative impacts from the pandemic.

As reported that, last month, the Da Nang Industry and Trade Promotion Centre provided VND2,829 billion in funding, including VND 1,125 billion from the city’s industry promotion programme, for nine industrial businesses in the districts of Ngu Hanh Son, Cam Le and Hoa Vang.

Grants for these local industrial businesses are part of the city’s project to promote the use of machinery and equipment in use in the manufacturing operation among industrial businesses in rural areas across the city. The project is included in Da Nang’s industry promotion programme in 2021 launched by the Da Nang Industry and Trade Promotion Center.

Laser engraving machine worth nearly VND 1 billion at the Inteltech Applications and Technology Solutions One Member LLC, of which VND300 million is worth of aid from the municipal administration-approved local industrial promotion programme. Photo: KHANH HOA

Many policies put into practice

Ms. Vu Thi Bich Hau, the Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Science and Technology acknowledged that the business support policies implemented by the this agency mainly focus on bolstering technology transfer and innovation, the purchase of machinery and equipment with high technology quality, developing an innovative startup ecosystem, and helping enterprises improve productivity and product quality.

In the field of innovative startups, since the beginning of the year, the above-mentioned policies have supported 11 startups and innovative businesses with a total aid of more than VND1.7 billion. Accumulated from 2020 till now, 18 businesses have received a total of more than VND2.8 billion worth of support.

Besides, 137 projects and over 50 startups and innovative businesses have been formed through incubation and supportive programmes.

With regard to technology innovation, from the beginning of the year until now, the city has granted VND1.71 billion in aids to 16 businesses. Accumulated from 2017 to present, 42 businesses have accessed VND6.11 billion in assistance.

Along with local policies, the city has made efforts to implement guidelines and policies adopted by the national government to timely support businesses and workers.

According to statistics from the municipal People's Committee, by the end of September 2021, the city has spent more than VND76.7 billion on its own budget to support eligible subjects according to the national government's Resolution No. 68/NQ-CP on a number of supportive policies for employees and employers facing difficulties brought about by COVID-19.

In particular, more than VND18.5 billion worth of aid from the municipal budget has gone to 12,527 employees without labour contracts.

The municipal administration has approved the consolidation of a special working group to assist businesses across the city in getting through challenges and difficulties sparked by the current COVID-19 resurgence.

The group aims to take appropriate solutions in line with the resolutions of the National Assembly and the national government, in tandem with closely coordinating with relevant national ministries and agencies for information exchange and access so that effective measures can be taken in a timely manner to help enterprises overcome any difficulties and problems amid the tough times triggered by the pandemic.

Besides, importance is attached to giving consultancy to the municipal administration on helping enterprises to restore production activities as soon as possible, simplifying administrative procedures related to production and business activities, and especially, standing side by side enterprises during their operations.

Reporting by KHANH HOA – Translating by A. THU